Clinical Study For The Combination Of Scalp Acupuncture And Electroacupuncture To Improve The Liver-qi Stagnation And Phlegm Stagnation Type Mazoplasia

ObjectiveBy comparing the main symptoms,accompanying symptoms,and other associated indicators on the Liver-qi Stagnation and Phlegm Stagnation Type mazoplasia between the intervention group(scalp acupuncture and electroacupuncture)and the control group(electroacupuncture),this clinical trial aims to explore the advantages of the combination of scalp acupuncture and electroacupuncture,which might enrich the clinical treatment methods of mazoplasia.MethodThis prospective study was a randomized control trial lasting for one year(from January in 2017 to January in 2018).Using the predetermined diagnostic criteria,inclusion criteria,and the exclusion criteria,70 patients with the Liver-qi Stagnation and Phlegm Stagnation Type mazoplasia were selected from the Acupuncture Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)and the outpatient of Galactophore Department of Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM).All patients were randomized allocated to both intervention group and control group.The control group chose Danzhong(RN17),Qimen(LR14,both),Jianjing(GB21,both),Zusanli(ST36,both),Sanyinjiao(SP6,both),Neiguan(PC6,both),Taichong(LR3,both),Yinlingquan(SP9,both).After the arrival of Qi,the same sides of Jianjing(GB21)and Qimen(LR14)were connected with the same pair of output electrodes as one group.Based on the intervention group,the controls were treated by adding the additional lateral line 3 of the forehead(MS4)with the same pair of output electrodes.Both groups were determined to experience the same electric stimulation(G6805 electric stimulator with density wave and intensity under patient's tolerance for 20 minutes)three times a week.The treatment would be stopped during the menstrual period.Each menstrual cycle was considered a treatment period,and all patients were asked to acquire three continuous treatment periods.Also,the main symptoms and accompanying symptoms related to mazoplasia in prior treatment and post-treatment were assessed,as well as the self-assessed anxiety scale and the level of sex hormone.Additionally,data regarding the serum estradiol and progesterone were collected and analyzed by SPSS22.0.ResultsNine patients dropped out from the study for several reasons(i.e.observational time,fee…).Among those,four patients were excluded from the intervention group and five were excluded from the control.61 patients were selected for the final study,including 31 in the intervention group and 30 in the control.After three treatment periods,data were compared between prior treatment and post-treatment in each team,and results of post-treatment were compared between both groups.The results we could get from the study were 1)the effective rate was 80.6% in the intervention group while the control was 66.3%,there was no statistical significance(P>0.05);2)for the major symptoms,the breast pain,the texture and size of the mass,and the main symptom score could be improved in both groups(P<0.05).However,the intervention group showed better results in improving the pain and texture of the mass compared to the control(P<0.05);3)for the accompanying symptoms,the total points of both teams demonstrated substantial improvement(P<0.001),which comprised emotion changes,mouth-bitterness and upset,and irregular menstruation(P<0.05).Among these,the intervention group had better improvement of the change in emotion,thoracic distension,menoxenia and the total points for accompanying symptoms compared to the control(P<0.05);4)for the self-assessed anxiety scale,both teams were likely to benefit from the treatment process psychologically and physically(P<0.001).Also,the total score for the scale might be higher and the mental status might be better in the intervention group than the one in the control(P<0.05);5)for the sex hormone level,the serum estradiol declined in both groups while the progesterone both increased,which showed statistical significance compared to prior treatment(P<0,001).However,there was no statistically significant difference between the intervention and the control(P>0.05),thereby,both groups might be able to control the related hormone level and get similar results.ConclusionThis clinical trial shows: the combination of scalp acupuncture and electroacupuncture could have similar clinical effect as electro-acupuncture only.Nevertheless,it is likely that the combination treatment performs better in improving the breast pain,the texture of the mass,the emotion changes,thoracic distension,and irregular menstruation.In addition,the serum estradiol and the progesterone could also be adjusted well by both of them.Therefore,it is considerable to practice this method in the future treatment process,to improve the quality of life of patients with mazoplasia.