OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on type M prostatitis between the combined therapy of acupuncture and isolated-ginger moxibustion and tamsulosin.

METHODSOne hundred and ten patients of type III prostatitis were randomized into an acupuncture and moxibustion group and a tamsulosin group, 55 cases in each one. In the acupuncture and moxibustion group, acupuncture and isolated-ginger moxibustion were adopted. Two groups of acupoints were selected, named (1) Guanyuan (CV 4), Qugu (CV 2) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6); (2) Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Pangguangshu (BL 28) and Zhibian (BL 54). The two groups of points were used by acupuncture alternatively and only one group was selected a day. Isolated-ginger moxibustion was applied to Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zhibian (BL 54), once a day, 10 treatments made one session, and totally 3 sessions were required. In the tamsulosin group, tamsulosin was prescribed for oral administration, 0.2 mg, twice a day for 1 month. The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score and expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) score were observed in the patients of the two groups.

RESULTSNIH-CPSI and EPS scores after treatment were all reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.05). The improvements in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were more obvious than those in the tamsulosin group (all P < 0.05). In 3 months follow-up, NIH-CPSI score in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was reduced apparently as compared with the tamsulosin group (P < 0.05). The curative rate and total effective, rate were 20.0% (11/55) and 85.5% (47/55) in the acupuncture and moxibustion group, and were 3.6% (2/55) and 61.8% (34/55) in the tamsulosin group respectively (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and isolated-ginger moxibustion achieves the good effect of relieving the symptoms of type III prostatitis and recovery of EPS, better than those treated with tamsulosin. This combined therapy spresents the better long-term efficacy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Prostatitis ; therapy ; Young Adult