Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of warm needling on the four knee acupoints in the treatment of knee pain after stroke on the basis of Chinese herb. Methods Sixty patients with knee pain after stroke were divided into a group A and a group B by random allocation, with 30 patients in each group. Patients in the group B only received the treatment by Chinese herb, which called Dúhuó Jìshēng Tāng（独活寄生汤 Pubescent Angelica and Mistletoe Decoction, add or remove ingredients depending on conditions）; patients in the group A additionally received warm needling on the basis of Chinese herb. Four knee acupoints were selected as master acupoints and Hèd ng（鹤顶 EXLE 2）, Yánglíngquán（阳陵泉 GB 34） and Zúsānl（足三里 ST 36） as combining acupoints. Perpendicular insertion was conducted on Xuèh i（血海 SP 10） and Liángqiū（梁丘 ST 34） for approximately 1 cun, and oblique insertion on Nèixīy n（内膝眼 EX-LE 4） and Dúbí（犊鼻 ST 35） for approximately 1 cun at 45° in inner and upper direction to push needle tip into joint cavity. After deqi, moxibustion stick was cut to 1.5 cm long, ignited, and inserted into the needle handles in the four knee acupoints. 1–2 strips were applied. After the moxa cones were burned up, needles were retained for 10 min. 7 d was a course of treatment and observation lasted for consecutive four courses. Visual analogue scale（VAS） and Barthel Index（BI） were adopted as observational indices. Clinical efficacy was classified as clinical cured, markedly effective, effective and ineffective according to the standards described in Guidelines of Clinical Research on Chinese New Herbal Medicine. Results After treatment, total effective rate was 93.3% in the group A, including full recovery in 8 cases, markedly effective in 15 cases, effective in 5 cases, and ineffective in 2 cases; while the total effective rate was 73.3% in the group B. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant（P0.05）. In
Objective To study and verify the efficacy of acupuncture on depression caused by chronic pain and to further analyze the advantages of acupuncture. Methods According to random number table, the cases were randomized into experimental group and western medicine group, treated with acupuncture and antidepression drug （deanxit） respectively. Hamilton Depressive Scale （HAMD） and Visual Analogue Scale （VAS） were adopted for the evaluation before treatment and in the 1, 2 and 4 weeks after treatment in two groups successively. Results ① Very significant differences had been achieved on the comparisons of HAMD, VAS and HAMD reducing rate before and after treatment in experimental group （P 〈 0.01）. Very significant differences had been achieved in the comparisons of HAMD, VAS and HAMD reducing rate before and after treatment in western medicine group （P 〈 0.01 ）. ③Significant differences in HAMD reducing rate^＊ and VAS score^＊ ＊ had been achieved in the comparison between experiment group and western medicine group 1 week after treatment （^＊ P〈0.01, ^＊ ＊ P〈0.05）. ④ The significant differences had not been received in HAMD, VAS score and HAMD reducing rate in 2 and 4 weeks after treatment in the comparison between experimental group and western medicine group （P 〉0.05）. ⑤ No any harmful effect happened in experimental group after treatment, but it happened in western medicine group. Conclusion Both acupuncture and deanxit have achieved the definite therapeutic effects on depression caused by chronic pain, with similar efficacy. But the effects of acupuncture are obtained more quickly. In comparison of western medicine, acupuncture has no side and harmful effect. Additionally, acupuncture applies the multi-targeting and holistic modulation to the whole body.
