Graves′ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can affect the thyroid gland, eyes, and skin. Its pathogenesis involves an imbalance in the immune response, leading to the production of IgG antibodies that stimulate thyroid stimulating hormone receptors on thyroid cells, resulting in increased synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones. Although traditional treatments have shown certain efficacy, they still have limitations. Given the current understanding of the pathophysiology and immunobiology of Graves′ disease, several novel treatment strategies have emerged, including biological agents, small molecular peptides, immunomodulators, and specific antibodies. These advancements provide additional therapeutic options for the treatment of Graves′ disease.

Graves′ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can affect the thyroid gland, eyes, and skin. Its pathogenesis involves an imbalance in the immune response, leading to the production of IgG antibodies that stimulate thyroid stimulating hormone receptors on thyroid cells, resulting in increased synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones. Although traditional treatments have shown certain efficacy, they still have limitations. Given the current understanding of the pathophysiology and immunobiology of Graves′ disease, several novel treatment strategies have emerged, including biological agents, small molecular peptides, immunomodulators, and specific antibodies. These advancements provide additional therapeutic options for the treatment of Graves′ disease.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of wind-expelling method of acupuncture and Chinese herbs for sudden deafness.
Methods:A total of 90 cases with sudden deafness were randomly divided into three groups based upon their visit order and random digital table, an acupuncture plus Chinese herbs (APCH) group, an acupuncture group, and a Western medication (WM) group, 30 cases in each group. The APCH group was treated by puncturing Fengchi (GB 20), Fengfu (GV 16) and Fengmen (BL 12), without retaining the needles, and then by puncturing Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) and Tianshu (ST 25) with reinforcing technique after arrival of the needling sensation, and the needles were retained for 30 min, plus oral administration of wind-expelling Chinese herbs. The acupuncture group was treated with the acupoints selected by syndrome differentiation in reference to the textbook of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Science. The WM group was treated by intravenous infusion of Alprostadil injection, Adenosine Disodium Triphosphate and Coenzyme A and muscular injection of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B1. The decibel values of hearing loss before and after treatment were respectively recorded and analyzed comparatively.
Results:In the intra-group comparison after treatment among the three groups, the decibel values of hearing loss all declined, with statistically significant differences (allP<0.05). After treatment, the decibel value of hearing loss in the APCH group was better than those in the acupuncture group (P<0.05) and the WM group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was respectively 83.3% in the APCH group, 60.0% in the acupuncture group and 56.7% in the WM group. The total effective rate in the APCH group was better than those in other two groups (bothP<0.05).
Conclusion:The therapeutic effect was better for sudden deafness by wind-expelling method of acupuncture and Chinese herbs than by acupuncture alone or by Western medication.