Objective: To observe the difference of clinical effects of acupoints selected based on meridian differen-tiation and conventional method for cervical spondylosis radiculopathy(CSR) treated with acupuncture and moxibustion.
Methods: Sixty patients with CSR were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,30 cases in each one. Ashi points of the injured meridians in the neck,namely six-he points,were selected in the observation group,matched with luo-connecting points of the injured meridians on the same side and the interiorly-exteriorly correlated meridians on the opposite side. Conventional acupuncture was used on Fengchi(GB 20),Jiaji(EX-B 2) of the neck,Tianzhu(BL 10),Jianjing(GB 21),Houxi(SI 3),Hegu(LI 4) and Waiguan(TE 5) on the affected side in the control group. Treatment was given once every other day,three times a week and total 12 times in the two groups. Twenty subscales for CSR and visual analogue scale(VAS) were observed before and after treatment,and total effects were evaluated after treatment.
Results: The effective rate of the observation group was 93.3%(28/30),which was better than 66.7%(20/30) of the control group(P<0.05). The scores of 20 subscales and VAS after treatment were all improved compared with those before treatment in the two groups(all P<0.01),with more apparent change in the observation group(both P<0.05).
Conclusions: The effect of acupuncture and moxibustion based on meridian differentiation is obvious,and superior to that of conventional acupoints selection.
Keywords: acupuncture and moxibustion; cervical spondylosis radiculopathy; meridian differentiation; randomized controlled trial(RCT).