Preliminary Clinical Study On The Efficacy Of Needling Sensation

Objective:To explore efficacy of needling sensation on simple obesity and primary dysmenorrhea;compare the needling sensation on same acupoint of different disease;provide recommendations for experimental design of sham-acupuncture.Method:(1)30 simple obesity subjects were given acupuncture treatment once on every alternate day,for a total of 20 acupuncture sessions.Each was 30 minutes and needle manipulation was applied every 10 minutes during each session.Data of obesity indices were recorded and analyzed pre-and post-treatment.The obesity indices used were:body mass,body mass index(BMI),body fat percentage(F%)and obesity degree(A%);body circumference index which consists of chest circumference,and waist,hip and thigh circumference.Quantitative description rules of needling sensation(M-QNS)and a questionnaire on the study of the relationship of needling sensation intensity verses effectiveness relation of acupuncture(F-QNS-E)were used to record the needling sensation of Quchi(LI11),Tianshu(ST25),Zusanli(ST36).Needling sensation was assessed by using a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale,which 0 means no sensation or the weakest sense,which 10 means the strongest sensation.The strongest needling sensation was marked when manipulating the needles,including local sensation(sense of pian or/and no pain)and irradiating sensation.After the completion of 20 acupuncture sessions,the average value of degree sensation,irradiating ratio,pain ratio of every subject were calculated and used to analyze the relationship between needling sensation and its effects on simple obesity.(2)30 subjects with primary dysmenorrhea were given acupuncture on the 25t-28th day during the menstrual cycle,consecutive 3 to 5 days consecutively in each cycle for to cycles.The main acupoints selected for this disease were Guanyuan(CA4),Zusanli(ST36),Sanyinjiao(SP6)to recording needling sensation.The needing sensation assessment method used was the same as simple obesity method above.The subject filled up a questionnaire of Subjective Pain Score before the treatment and again after completing 2 courses of treatment.Nimodipine method was used to determine the curative effects.Result:The total effective rate of treatment on simple obesity was 90%.Each obesity index was reduced significantly,P<0.01.The painless degree of ST36 was stronger than ST25,P<0.01,and irradiating ratio of ST25 was smaller than LI11 and ST36,P<0.01;pain ratio of Ll11 was higher than ST36,P<0.01.There was no significant correlation between painless degree,irradiating ratio,pain ratio of LI11,ST25,ST36 and curative effects,P>0.05.The total effective rate of treatment on primary dysmenorrhea was 90%.The painless degree and irradiating ratio of ST36,SP6 were stronger than CA4,all P<0.01;pain ratio of CA4,ST36 were higher than ST36,P<0.01.There was no significant correlation between painless degree,irradiating ratio,pain ratio of CA4,ST36,ST36 and curative effects,P>0.05.There were no difference between painless degree and irradiating ratio on acupoint Zusanli(ST36)for these two diseases,P>0.05;however,the primary dysmenorrhea subjects had stronger pain feeling than the simple obesity subjects,P<0.01.Conclusion:There is no significant correlation between painless degree,irradiating ratio,pain ratio and the curative effects on simple obesity,so as primary dysmenorrhea.Needling pain sensation on ST36 was more obvious on primary dysmenorrhea subjects than the simple obesity subjects.Base on the above conclusion,the ever designed of sham acupuncture study may require further evaluation and analysis.