温针灸在类风湿关节炎中的镇痛作用

类风湿关节炎 (ＲｈｅｕｍａｔｏｉｄＡｒｔｈｒｉｔｉｓ,ＲＡ)是一种以关节滑膜炎症为主的慢性、多发性全身性自身免疫性疾病。至今病因不明 ,从其四肢关节疼痛、肿胀、畸形等症状来分析 ,中医认为属“痹证”之范畴。本文采用温针灸的方法与西医常用扶他林软膏进行比较 ,重点观察外治法在ＲＡ局部的镇痛等作用。6 2例成年人活动性ＲＡ患者中 ,男性 2 3例 ,女性 39例。全部患者均符合美国风湿病协会类风湿关节炎修订分类标准 (1 987)和活动性类风湿关节炎标准。将患者随机分为两组 :治疗组 ,即温针灸组 ;对照组 ,即扶他林软膏组 ,每组 31人…

Analgesic Effect of Warming Needles in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic and frequently occurring general autoimmune disease characterized chiefly by joint synovitis. Up to now, its pathogenesis remains unclear. According to its symptoms as pain, swelling and malformation of joints of extremities, it belongs to the category of "Bi syndrome". In the present paper, the effect of acupuncture with the needles warmed with ignited moxa (warming needles in short) was observed and compared with that of Western medicine Votalin Ointment. Close attention was paid to its local analgesic effect in treating RA. 62 cases of adult active RA including 23 males and 39 females were randomly and evenly divided into treatment group and control group. All the patients met the RA Revised Classification Standard (1987) and Active RA Standard of American Rheumatoid Disease Association. In treatment group, 31 patients were treated with warming needles and acupoints used were Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (SJ 5), Hegu (LI 4), Baxie (EX UE 9), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Kunlun (BL 60), Bafeng (EX LE 10), etc. The treatment was given once daily, with two or three points used every time, and with the needles warmed for 20 to 30 minutes. In control group, Votalin Ointment was applied to the local affected part, twice daily. 30 days' treatment was considered as a theraputic course. An interval of 5 or 7 days was given before the next treatment started. After treatment, the results showed a satisfactory result in both groups. Regarding to the pain and swelling degrees, Ridit Test showed a significant difference between pre and post treatment (P<0.05). Tenderness index of joints and the numbers of joint pain had remarkable improvement, symptoms such as morning stiffness, etc were obviously improved, but there was little difference between the two groups (P> 0.05). Warming needle therapy is effective in improving clinical symptoms especially in relieving pain, which is similar to that of Votalin Ointment. It is worth to be mentioned that the warming needle treatment has no irritant to the skin and has no side effect, and is thus superior to Votalin Ointment in this respect.