[Combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome: a multi-central randomized controlled trial].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical effect of combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine for treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome.


METHODS
By using multi-central randomized controlled method, 186 cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture combined with cupping and western medicine group (group A), an acupuncture combined with cupping group (group B) and a western medicine group (group C) and treated continuously for 4 weeks. The treatment of acupuncture combined with cupping was produced by acupuncture at five mental points and moving cupping on the Hechelu of the back, once evrey other day, thrice each week, and the western medicine therapy by oral administration of Amitriptyline, once each day. The scores of McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the amount of tenderness point and the time of producing effect were compared and the therapeutic effects were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD).


RESULTS
The cured and markedly effective rate was 65.0% (39/60) in the group A, which was superior to 15.9% (10/63) in the group B and 16.1% (9/56) in the group C (both P < 0.001). After treatment, the scores of MPQ and HAMD and the amount of tenderness point all decreased in the three groups, group A being significantly better than group B and group C, and the time of producing effect in the group A was more earlier than those in the group B and the group C.


CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic effect of combination of acupuncture, cupping and medicine on fibromyalgia syndrome is superior to that of the simple acupuncture combined with cupping or the simple medicine.
Jang
Zhen-Ya
ZY
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu 610072, China. zhenya@163.com
Li
Chang-Du
CD
Qiu
Ling
L
Guo
Jun-Hua
JH
He
Ling-Na
LN
Yue
Yang
Y
Li
Fang-Ze
FZ
Qin
Wen-Yi
WY
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000639:Amitriptyline