[Observation on the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture of Jiaji (EX-B 2) plus regional encircled needling for herpes zoster].
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.
Li
Xuan
X
School of Acu-moxibustion. Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, China. Lee-xuan@126.com
Zhang
Hong-Xing
HX
Huang
Guo-Fu
GF
Feng
Yong-Fang
YF
Zou
Ron
R
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
D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir