Analysis of the Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatment on Herpes Zoster.

Abstract

Fifty-two cases of herpes zoster were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion and a control group of 49 cases was treated with traditional Chinese medicine (Kampo). The Visual Analogue scale (VAS) was used as an index of the analgesic effects. The acupuncture and moxibustion groups were treated according to the differentiation of symptoms and signs of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture was also applied around the area of affected skin, followed by 30 minutes of moxibustion. Cases in the Kampo group were given the following formulas: Ryutan-shakan-to (containing Gentianae) was administered for Damp-Heat in the Liver and Gall Bladder, Shoyosan (Pulvis ambulatorius) for Stagnation of Liver Qi and Irei-to (Formula hoelen stomachi) for Damp-Heat in the Spleen meridian. It took an average of 3.8 treatments for the pain to disappear in the 52 cases of the acupuncture group, and an average of five days for the Kampo group. Kampo was ineffective in three cases. There was a significantly higher rate of appearance of analgesic effects in the acupuncture group. Acupuncture is thought to control pain by improving the circulation of the Qi and blood. It also enhances immune function, thereby suppressing virus activity and helping reduce pain. Acupuncture and moxibustion significantly reduced pain in herpes zoster patients, and can be said to have analgesic effects.