Electroacupuncture

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). CONCLUSION: 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.