Acupuncture for lumbar disc herniation

Written by: DrTonyWillcox | May 24, 2013

Acupuncture for lumbar disc herniation

Research One

OBJECTIVE:
To compare the effects on lumbar disc snake herniation between acupuncture in a combination with snake moxibustion with simple acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

Back Pain

A patient receding acupuncture for lumbar pain

METHODS:

Researchers randomly assigned 120 lumbar disc herniation patients to three groups: acupuncture and snake moxibustion (group A, 60 cases), acupuncture control (group B, 30 cases), and snake moxibustion control (group C, 30 cases). Group A received acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), and bilateral spinal tender points daily, plus snake moxibustion once weekly after acupuncture. Group B received only acupuncture, and group C received only snake moxibustion.

RESULTS:
The excellent rate was 95.0% (57/60) in group A, which was superior to that of 70.0% (21/30) in group B and 66.7% (20/30) in group C (both P < 0.05). JOA scores rose significantly in all groups post-treatment (P < 0.01). Group A’s scores increased more than others (P < 0.01). Group A’s efficacy correlated with shorter sickness duration, yielding higher excellent rates. Younger patients in group A showed higher efficacy and excellent rates.

CONCLUSION:
The efficiency of lumbar disc herniation treated with acupuncture and snake moxibustion is superior to that with either acupuncture or snake moxibustion.

 

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Resources
1- By Acupuncture-Moxibustion Department, Xiangcheng Municipal Hospital of TCM, Xiangcheng 466200, Henan Province, China. All rights reserved.
– http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20886789

Research Two

Acupuncture for lumbar disc herniation

Firstly, acupuncture at Ex-B2 somewhat relieves low back pain. However, it often lacks effect and stable sciatic nerve blood flow increase.

Electroacupuncture on the pudendal nerve effectively treats cases unresponsive to Ex-B2 stimulation.

The animal study also indicated a stable sciatic nerve blood flow increase response. Electroacupuncture nerve root stimulation yielded the strongest effect immediately post-treatment. Some cases showed long-term effects from brief stimulation. Animal studies revealed longer-lasting blood flow increase from nerve root stimulation compared to pudendal nerve electroacupuncture.

Acupuncture Treatment for Low Back Pain and Lower Limb Symptoms—The Relation between Acupuncture or Electroacupuncture Stimulation and Sciatic Nerve Blood Flow

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