[Warming Needle Moxibustion Relieves Symptoms of Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients and Upregulates Plasma β-endorphin]

To analyze the effect of warming needle moxibustion of Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30), etc. on lumbago and other symptoms of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients and changes of plasma β-endorphin (β-EP) content.

A total of 60 LDH patients were equally randomized into warming needle moxibustion group and conventional acupuncture group. Patients of the conventional acupuncture group were treated by puncturing lumbar Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), and Yanglingquan (GB 34) with filiform acupuncture needles. Patients of the warming needle moxibustion group were treated by puncturing the same 4 acupoints, and with the acupuncture needle in lumbar EX-B 2 attached an ignited moxa-stick segment. The treatment in both groups lasted for 30 min every time, once every other day for 15 times, with 5 times being a therapeutic course and two days' rest between every two courses. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the "Criteria for Evaluating the Therapeutic Effect of Disorders of Traditional Chinese Medicine". The lumbago severity was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the lumbar functional activity assessed using modified Oswestry dysfunction (in objects-lifting, sitting, standing, walking, sleeping, pain, activity of daily living, social activity, outing, etc.) index (ODI). The plasma β-EP content was assayed using ELISA.

After the treatment, of the two 30 cases in the conventional acupuncture and warming needle moxibustion groups, 8 (26.67%) and 12 (40.00%) were under control, 8 (26.67%) and 10 (33.33%) had a marked improvement, 3 (10.00%) and 4 (13.33%) were effective, and 11 (36.66%) and 4 (13.33%) ineffective, with the effective rates being 63.34% and 86.66%, respectively. The effective rate of the warming needle moxibustion was significantly higher than that of the conventional acupuncture (P<0.05). The VAS scores and ODI values of the two groups were gradually decreased along with the prolongation of treatment, and significantly lower in the warming needle moxibustion group than in the acupuncture group at the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd course of treatment (P<0.01). The levels of plasma β-EP were gradually increased in the two groups at the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd course of treatment, and were obviously higher in the warming needle moxibustion group than in the conventional acupuncture group at each of the 3 courses (P<0.01). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups.

Warming needle moxibustion has a better therapeutic effect in relieving lumbago and lumbar dysfunction, and can up-regulate blood β-EP level.