title: [Observation on the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture of Jiaji (EX-B 2) plus regional encircled needling for herpes zoster].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of Jiaji (EX-B 2) plus focus-encircled needling for promoting the crust formation of herpes zoster and analgesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty cases of herpes zoster patients were equally randomized into EA group [treated with EA of Ashi-point, Jiaji (EX-B 2), Zhigou (SJ 6) and Houxi (SI 3), once daily for 10 times] and medication group (treated with valaciclovir hydrochloride 300 mg/time, b. i. d. and vitamin B1 10 mg/time, t.i.d., 10 days). The pain severity was evaluated by using visual analogous scale (VAS) method. The time when the cutaneous scabbing area was equal or over 50% was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the treatment, of the two 40 cases in EA and medication groups, 30 (75.0%) and 15 (37.5%) were cured, 7 (17.5%) and 12 (30.0%) improved, 3 (7.5%) and 13 (32.5%) failed, with the total effective rates being 92.5% and 67.5%, respectively. The therapeutic effect of EA was significantly superior to that of medication (P < 0.01). VAS scores of both groups reduced significantly (P < 0.01). Both the VAS score and the crust formation time of EA group were significantly lower than those of medication group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA of Jiaji (EX-B 2) in combination with focus-encircled needling is effective in facilitating the crust formation and pain relief in the treatment of herpes zoster, and the effect of acupuncture is superior to that of medication.
authors.affiliation: School of Acu-moxibustion. Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, China. Lee-xuan@126.com
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guo-Fu
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yong-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir