The Clinical Study Of Using The Pricking Method In Treating Depression Of The Stagnation Of The Liver Qi And Blood Stasis Syndrome

ObjectiveUsing randomized controlled method, the study observes the clinical effect of the pricking method in the treatment of depression due to the stagnation of the liver qi and blood stasis syndrome.MethodsAll 60 qualified depressed patients were from Wuji TCM Clinic, Taizhong, Taiwan, and Xu Meizhao TCM Clinic. They were divided into treatment (pricking plus basic needling) and control (basic needling) groups; both containing 30 patients. They all received counseling, and for severe cases, were prescribed medication. The severity of the patients in both groups was relatively similar. In addition to basic needling, the patients in the treatment group were pricked once a week, for a course of 3 weeks.ResultsThe treatment and control groups each contained 30 patients. Before treatment, their age, sex, course of treatment, the level of depression or anxiety assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), the five item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5), and their TCM syndrome were statistically analyzed, and found that there was no significance difference; therefore, the groups were comparable.After treatment, there was no significant difference between the groups in the following improvements:depressed mood, feeling of guilt, loss of interest and work, fatigue or decreased energy, hypochondria, feeling of worthlessness, difficulty making decisions, irritability and restlessness. For symptoms such as somatic anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, feeling depressed and sad, the improvements were significantly different between the groups. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding improvements in somatic anxiety, lack of alertness, feeling of guilt, and hypochondria. Likewise, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding improvements in delusion, paranoia, difficulty in decision making, loss of interest, sense of worthlessness, restlessness, and irritability. There was improvement in insomnia, depressed mood and the difference was significant between the groups.Both groups scored better in the HAMD and BSRS-5 assessments, and the group difference was statistically significant.Regarding safety, no abnormal lab results (32-item blood test, urine test, GPT, BUN liver and kidney functional tests, and electrocardiogram) was encountered in either group throughout the experiment. No adverse reactions occurred in the patients.Conclusion1. Both pricking and basic needling therapies improved TCM symptoms in the treatment of depression of the stagnation of the liver qi and blood stasis syndrome.2. The pricking method was more effective than the basic needling in improving the patients'mood and insomnia, as well as the quality of life.