[Effect of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on drug craving of heroin addicts and beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on drug craving of heroin addicts.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty cases of heroin addicts were randomly divided into 4 groups, 30 cases in each. In acupuncture group 1, the Jiaji (EX-B 2) points of T5-T7 and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected with electroacupuncture; in acupuncture group 2, Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Zusanli (ST 36) etc. were selected with electroacupuncture; in simulation group, Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected with analog electrical stimulation, and in blank group no any therapy was applied. The changes of drug craving were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the changes of beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma before and after treatment were tested by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
The relapse rate of 77.3% (17/22) in acupuncture group 1 was lower than those of 88.5% (23/26) in acupuncture group 2, 90.5% (19/21) in simulation group and 95.7% (22/23) in blank group (all P < 0.05). At the 8th and 10th week of treatment, the VAS scores in acupuncture group 1 and 2 were much lower than those in blank group and simulation group (all P < 0.01); in which, it was lower in acupuncture group 1 than that in acupuncture group 2 (P < 0.05), and lower in simulation group than that in blank group. After 10 weeks of treatment, compared with the status before treatment, beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma were increased in acupuncture group 1 and 2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), Dyn-A was decreased in both simulation and blank groups (both P < 0. 01) which was less obvious than those in both acupuncture groups (both P < 0.01) and superior in acupuncture group 1 than that in group 2 (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) can suppress the drug craving and reduce the relapse rate, and the mechanism may be related with the content of beta-EP, especially the increase of Dyn-A in plasma.
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Taihe Hospital Affiliated to Hubei Medical College, Shiyan 442000, China. mjp11@163.com
Jing-Ping
JP
Mu
Li
L
Liu
Wei
W
Fang
Jian-Ming
JM
Cheng
Lei
L
Zhao
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000097:blood*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D004399:Dynorphins