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["Dredging governor vessel" for cervical vertigo with deficiency of qi and blood:a randomized controlled trial]
Zhuanzhuan Hou1, Shibing Xu2, Weigang Wu1
1Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the Third People's Hospital of Xiaoshan District Hangzhou City, Hangzhou 311200, Zhejiang Province, China.
Insights
Acupuncture targeting the Governor Vessel (GV) is more effective for cervical vertigo with qi and blood deficiency than the Conception Vessel (CV). GV acupuncture significantly improved symptoms and blood flow, while CV acupuncture showed benefits for specific symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Integrative and Complementary Medicine
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Neurology
Context:
- Cervical vertigo is a condition often associated with qi and blood deficiency in TCM.
- Acupuncture is a widely used TCM therapy with various approaches.
- Dredging the Governor Vessel (GV) and Conception Vessel (CV) are distinct therapeutic strategies in acupuncture.
Purpose:
- To compare the efficacy of acupuncture focused on the GV versus the CV for treating cervical vertigo.
- To evaluate the impact of these acupuncture approaches on cervical vertigo symptoms, functional status, and vertebral-basilar artery blood flow.
- To provide evidence-based guidance for clinical application in managing cervical vertigo with qi and blood deficiency.
Summary:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 60 patients with cervical vertigo and qi/blood deficiency compared GV-focused acupuncture to CV-focused acupuncture.
- The GV group demonstrated significantly higher cure and total effective rates (93.3%) compared to the CV group (70.0%).
- Both groups showed improvements in vertigo symptoms, functional status, and blood flow, with superior outcomes in the GV group (P<0.01).
Impact:
- Acupuncture targeting the GV offers superior therapeutic effects for cervical vertigo associated with qi and blood deficiency compared to CV-focused acupuncture.
- GV acupuncture significantly enhances cervical vertigo symptom relief and improves vertebral-basilar artery blood flow.
- For severe deficiency, a combined GV and CV approach may offer additional benefits.
Objective:
To compare the effect differences of acupuncture of dredging the governor vessel (GV) and conception vessel (CV) for cervical vertigo with deficiency of qi and blood so as to provide Objective evaluation and guide for clinical treatment.
Methods:
A total of 60 patients were randomly divided assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The acupoints of the observation group were mainly in the GV, namely Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Fengfu (GV 16), Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Jiaji (EX-B 2) of C6 and C7, Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). The acupoints of the control group were mainly in the CV, including Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Guanyan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Jiaji (EX-B 2) of C6 and C7, Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Acupuncture was given once every other day and 10 treatments were taken as one course. After 2-course treatment, the changes before and after treatment of the scores of symptoms of cervical vertigo and functional evaluation scale, the scores of symptoms of deficiency of qi and blood, the mean blood flow rate of vertebral-basilar artery were observed. Also, the effects were evaluated.
Results:
(1) The cured and effective rate and total effective rate of the observation group were 76.7% (23/30) and 93.3% (28/30), which were better than 46.7% (14/30) and 70.0% (21/30) of the control group (both P<0.05). (2) As for the scores of symptoms of cervical vertigo and functional evaluation scale and the mean blood flow rate, the results were obviously improved after treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05), with superiority in the observation group (all P<0.01). (3) After treatment,the scores of the symptoms of deficiency of qi and blood were decreased obviously in the two groups (all P<0.05). As to fatigue,facial expression,tongue and pulse condition,there was no statistical significance between the two groups after treatment (all P>0.05),but treatment for palpitation and shortness of breath achieved better effect in the control group(P<0.01).
Conclusions:
The effect of dredging the GV for cervical vertigo with deficiency of qi and blood is superior to that of acupuncture mainly in the CV,which can improve the symptoms of cervical vertigo and the mean blood flow rate of vertebral-besilar better. But acupuncture at acupoints both in the GV and CV may be better for the patients with syndrome of deficiency of qi and blood seriously.
