Efficacy observation on long snake moxibustion for lumbar disc herniation with cold-dampness syndrome

Objectives: To observe and compare the clinical efficacy difference among long snake moxibustion, acupuncture and western medication for treating lumbar disc herniation with cold-dampness syndrome, and to provide a preferred treatment for cold-dampness lumbar disc herniation. Methods: A total of 90 patients with cold-dampness lumbar disc herniation were randomized into three groups according to the random number table, including the long snake moxibustion group (31 cases), the acupuncture group (28 cases) and the western medication group (31 cases). Treated with long snake moxibustion, patients in the long snake moxibustion group. The acupuncture group was treated with conventional acupuncture therapy, by adopting acupoints of Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25), Yaoyangguan (GV3), Weizhong (BL40) and local Ashi points. Patients in the western medication group were given oral diclofenac sodium. Visual analogous scale (VAS), Oswestry Dysfunction Index (ODI) score, yang deficiency scale score and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment. Results: (1) The VAS scores of the patients after treatment in each group decreased compared with those before the treatment. The long snake moxibustion group decreased from 7.22 +/- 1.14 to 1.10 +/- 0.75 (P < 0.05); the acupuncture group, from 6.75 +/- 1.18 to 1.46 +/- 0.88 (P < 0.05); and the western medication group, from 7.38 +/- 1.02 to 1.51 +/- 0.81 (P < 0.05) . After treatment, the VAS score of the long snake moxibustion group was lower than that of the acupuncture and western medication groups, the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). (2) ODI scores of all the groups were lower than those before the treatment. The long snake moxibustion group decreased from 33.35 +/- 10.85 to 7.84 +/- 3.59 (P < 0.05); the acupuncture group, from 31.65 +/- 8.23 to 9.00 +/- 6.10 (P < 0.05); and the western medication group from 27.77 +/- 7.30 to 23.87 +/- 10.81 (P < 0.05). The score of ODI in the long snake moxibustion group was lower than those in the acupuncture and western medication groups, the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). (3) The scores of yang deficiency scale score in each group were lower than those before treatment. The long snake moxibustion group decreased from 61.81 +/- 15.49 to 32.26 +/- 6.08 (P < 0.05); the acupuncture group, from 67.64 +/- 12.47 to 62.00 +/- 17.77 (P < 0.05); and the western medication group from 64.68 +/- 12.73 to 59.77 +/- 14.02 (P < 0.05). The score of yang deficiency scale of the long snake moxibustion group was lower than those of the acupuncture and western medication groups after treatment, the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). (4) The effective rates of the long snake moxibustion group, acupuncture group and western medication group were 93.55%, 85.71% and 74.19% respectively, and the differences among three groups were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: The long snake moxibustion therapy has a significant clinical effect for lumbar disc herniation with cold-damp syndrome, which is better than those of acupuncture and western medication groups, the therapy can effectively improve the patients' physical constitution as a preferred solution for cold-damp lumbar disc herniation by acupuncture therapy. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of World Journal of Acupuncture Moxibustion House.