Combined Therapies of Modified Taiyi Miraculous Moxa Roll and Cupping for Patients with Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Abstract

Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation is a kind of syndrome caused by stimulation or pressure of nerve root and cauda equina due to intervertebral disc disorder, fibrous ring rupture, and pulpiform nucleus protrusion. Application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) including acupuncture therapy and cupping therapy is unique and effective treatment for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in China. Hence, we try to investigate the combined clinical efficacy of modified Taiyi miraculous moxa roll and cupping therapy on patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Seventy patients were randomly assigned into combined treatment group (n = 35) and control group (n = 35). The treatment group received combined therapy of modified Taiyi miraculous moxa roll and cupping therapy, while control group received acupuncture therapy alone. Diagnostic criteria of TCM syndrome, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and simplified McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) were used to evaluate the therapy. 11 and 13 out of 35 subjects in the combined treatment group had improvement > 75% and between 50% and 75%, respectively. The corresponding number was 2 and 22 of 35 subjects in the acupuncture group. There was significant difference in the clinical efficacy between the treatment group and control group (P = 0.036). The scores of JOA and MPQ detected in the patients of the two groups (P < 0.05) also showed statistically significant differences. Moreover, no serious adverse events occurred in the patients, who received cupping therapy or acupuncture. The combined or alone therapies can effectively improve the treatment efficacy in the patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, while the combined therapies show more comparative effectiveness. Furthermore, the combined therapies are potentially safe and cost-effective and also benefit the improvement of short-term pain. Therefore, the combined therapies of the two ancient TCM deserve further clinical applications.

Enhancing treatment of lumbar disc herniation with Erxian decoction and auricular acupoint pressure: A randomized controlled trial

“…In TCM, LDH is categorized under lumbago, lumbar and leg pain, and arthralgia. [31] This condition is often attributed to imbalances in the body’s qi, blood, meridians, and internal organs, with qi stagnation, blood stasis, and meridian obstruction being common etiologies. Although rehabilitation yields favorable outcomes for lumbar disc herniation patients, a substantial segment of the population increasingly chooses surgical intervention, especially as the patient demographic grows and skews younger, and as the severity of the condition escalates.…”

Effects of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex versus motor cortex in patients with neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury: a study protocol

“…The 0 point is at 0 mm, which is no pain; and the 100 points are at 100 mm, which represents the most severe pain. 22 During the 4 weeks with treatment and 4 weeks after the treatment, all patients would measure the overall pain intensity by themselves using the VAS. The primary outcome is the average VAS score in the past week at each evaluation time point.…”

“…The total length of VAS is recorded with 100 mm. The 0 point is at 0 mm, which is no pain; and the 100 points are at 100 mm, which represents the most severe pain 22. During the 4 weeks with treatment and 4 weeks after the treatment, all patients would measure the overall pain intensity by themselves using the VAS.…”

Overview of Traditional Mongolian Medical Warm Acupuncture

“…According to TCM, LDH is caused by liver and kidney deficiencies, Qi stagnation, blood stasis, and external pathogenic factors [ 42 ].Warm needle moxibustion, as one of the treatment methods in TCM, has been reported to have a better therapeutic effect in relieving lumbago and lumbar dysfunction, and can upregulate blood β-EP levels [ 43 ]. However, LDH is considered to depend on the imbalance between Heyi, Xila, and Badagan at the TMM acupoint.…”