OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on bronchial asthma. Methods One hundred and four cases of asthma at persistent period and remission stage were divided into a treatment group and a control group with stratified random method of illness degrees. The treatment group were treated with antiasthma agents plus acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Lieque (LU 7), Yuji (LU 10), Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), once each day, 10 sessions constituting one course, and the control group with anti-asthma agents at the same dose. Changes of clinical symptoms and pulmonary function after treatment were investigated. Results Clinical symptoms significantly improved, the score for asthma symptoms decreased and the wheeze in the lung reduced, severity and grading of the disease significantly improved in the treatment group with significant differences as compared with those in the control group (all P< 0.05). And the first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), peak of forced expiratory flow rate (PEF), FEF(25%-75%) (% PRED), FEF(75%-85%) (% PRED), FEF50% (%PRED), FEF75% (% PRED) more significantly improved in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). Six months later, the incidence rate of asthma acute attack in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and the dose of anti-asthma agents in the 50% of patients in the treatment group was reduced by 1/3-1/4.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve clinical symptoms and pulmonary function and reduce the dose of anti-asthma agents, and has a certain long-term therapeutic effect.