Positive Health Online

Abstract

WANG and COLLEAGUES, 1. College of TCM, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China; 2. Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Hospital of TCM, Yinchuan 750021 compared the effects of Hui medicine flipping moxibustion combined with western medication and simple western medication for rheumatoid arthritis.

Background

To compare the effects of flipping moxibustion of Hui medicine combined with western medication and simple western medication for rheumatoid arthritis with cold dampness bi syndrome.

Methodology

Eighty patients were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each group. Oral methotrexate (1 time a week) and sulfasalazine (twice a day except the day for methotrexate) were used in the two groups. Patients in the observation group were treated with flipping moxibustion of Hui medicine, twice a week. The main acupoints were Shenshu (BL 23), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), and the matching acupoints were in the meridians related to the disease location. All the treatment was given for continuous 4 weeks. The TCM symptom score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, blood sedimentation (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed before and after treatment. The effect was evaluated.

Results

The total effect rate in the observation group was 95.0% (38/40), which was better than 77.5% (31/40) in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the VAS score, TCM symptom score, RF, ESR, CRP levels decreased in the two groups (all P<0.05), with better effects in the observation group (all P<0.05). The adverse reactions in the observation group were lower than those in the control group.

Conclusion

Flipping moxibustion of Hui medicine combined with western medication for rheumatoid arthritis with cold dampness bi syndrome are better than simple western medication, which are safer and more effective.

References

Wang S1, Ye G2, Zhang Y1, Guan S1, Liu X1, Ren W1. [Flipping moxibustion of Hui medicine combined with western medication for rheumatoid arthritis with cold dampness bi syndrome]. [Article in Chinese] Zhongguo Zhen Jiu.;37(10):1047-51. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.10.006. 12 Oct  2017.

Comment

The results from this randomized trial with 80 patients showed that flipping moxibustion of Hui medicine combined with western medication – Oral methotrexate, sulfasalazine – for rheumatoid arthritis were better than simple western medication