Clinical Randomized Controlled Trial Study On Combination Of Surrounding Acupuncture And Electro-acupuncture For Treating Acute Herpes Zoster

Object:This study was based on multi-center randomized controlled traial,to examine the effect of surrounding acupuncture plus electro-acupuncture for treating acute herpes zoster (AHZ).Method:With a multi-center randomized, single-blind and controlled trial, a total of 62 patients included in this study were randomly divided into experimental group (32 cases) and controlled group (30 cases), which four were rejected, leaving 58 finished the whole study and been accounted into the final analysis. Experimental group was given surrounding acupuncture plus electro-acupuncture during observation while its counterpart was prescribed by western medicines. The effect of either group was checked daily. Scores of general effect assessment on AHZ, herpes syndrome as well as pain were recorded, and the effects of both groups were assessed upon completion of the treatment.Result:(1). the baseline condition in either group was fine and balanced with reasonable compatibility (P>0.05); (2). the total effective rate in experimental group was 96.67%, and the total effective rate in both groups has no statistically significant difference (P>0.05); (3), the after-treatment score of the pain VAS assessment in experimental group has statistical significance comparing with that of before-treatment, and post treatment pain VAS scores between groups showed better result with statistical significance in the experimental group than that of the controlled group (P<0.05); (4), the local pain score of experimental group after treatment was with statistical significance compared with that of before treatment, and post-treatment local pain scores between groups showed statistical significance with better result in the experimental group (P<0.05); and (5), recurrence rate of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the experimental group was statistically significant in contrast with that of the controlled group on the 30th day follow-up observation (P<0.05).Conclusion:First, the combination of surrounding acupuncture with electro-acupuncture shows better effect for treating AHZ and is better over western medicine in terms of improving VAS scores for patients, shorting pain duration, relieving local pain as well as restraining postherpetic neuralgia after 30 days. Second, acupuncture demonstrates fewer adverse events and better safety. Third, simple manipulation, cheap cost and good effectiveness of acupuncture makes it suitable to popularize and practice in clinics.