Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To observe the efficacy of Shugan Tiaoshen (liver-soothing and mind-regulating) needling method in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: A total of 66 patients with PHN were randomly divided into acupuncture group and control group, 33 cases in each one, by...

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Main Authors: Yi-ling YANG, Wei-xuan ZHAO, Jia-le LI, Wei-qiang CHEN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-04-01
Series:World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1003525725000133
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author Yi-ling YANG
Wei-xuan ZHAO
Jia-le LI
Wei-qiang CHEN
author_facet Yi-ling YANG
Wei-xuan ZHAO
Jia-le LI
Wei-qiang CHEN
author_sort Yi-ling YANG
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To observe the efficacy of Shugan Tiaoshen (liver-soothing and mind-regulating) needling method in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: A total of 66 patients with PHN were randomly divided into acupuncture group and control group, 33 cases in each one, by the random number table method. The acupuncture group received Shugan Tiaoshen needling method plus gabapentin, whereas the control group received the oral administration of gabapentin and sham acupuncture. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to evaluate the pain condition, anxiety symptom and sleep quality. The effective rate and adverse events were also evaluated and recorded during the treatment. Results: After eight weeks of treatment, the NRS scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05) at all time points, with statistically significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). The scores of STAI and PSQI of the acupuncture group were significantly lower than the scores before treatment (P < 0.05). The scores of STAI for anxiety symptom and PSQI of the acupuncture group were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05), and the effective rate of the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Shugan Tiaoshen needling method showed satisfactory efficacy in treating PHN, and could alleviate the pain, relieve the anxiety symptoms, promote sleep, and reduce the adverse reactions of gabapentin in patients with PHN.
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spelling doaj-art-c51dec235c9d4f6fb63a2104344596ed2025-08-20T03:09:39ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion1003-52572025-04-0135211912410.1016/j.wjam.2025.01.004Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trialYi-ling YANG0Wei-xuan ZHAO1Jia-le LI2Wei-qiang CHEN3Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, China (广东药科大学附属第一医院中医科, 广州510080, 中国); Nursing College of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510315, China (广东药科大学护理学院, 广州510315, 中国); Corresponding author.Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510080, China (广东药科大学附属第一医院中医科, 广州510080, 中国)Nursing College of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510315, China (广东药科大学护理学院, 广州510315, 中国)Nursing College of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510315, China (广东药科大学护理学院, 广州510315, 中国)Objective: To observe the efficacy of Shugan Tiaoshen (liver-soothing and mind-regulating) needling method in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: A total of 66 patients with PHN were randomly divided into acupuncture group and control group, 33 cases in each one, by the random number table method. The acupuncture group received Shugan Tiaoshen needling method plus gabapentin, whereas the control group received the oral administration of gabapentin and sham acupuncture. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to evaluate the pain condition, anxiety symptom and sleep quality. The effective rate and adverse events were also evaluated and recorded during the treatment. Results: After eight weeks of treatment, the NRS scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05) at all time points, with statistically significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05). The scores of STAI and PSQI of the acupuncture group were significantly lower than the scores before treatment (P < 0.05). The scores of STAI for anxiety symptom and PSQI of the acupuncture group were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05), and the effective rate of the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Shugan Tiaoshen needling method showed satisfactory efficacy in treating PHN, and could alleviate the pain, relieve the anxiety symptoms, promote sleep, and reduce the adverse reactions of gabapentin in patients with PHN.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1003525725000133AcupuncturePostherpetic neuralgiaShugan TiaoshenLiver-soothing and mind-regulatingPainEfficacy
spellingShingle Yi-ling YANG
Wei-xuan ZHAO
Jia-le LI
Wei-qiang CHEN
Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trial
World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion
Acupuncture
Postherpetic neuralgia
Shugan Tiaoshen
Liver-soothing and mind-regulating
Pain
Efficacy
title Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trial
title_full Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trial
title_short Shugan Tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia: A randomized controlled trial
title_sort shugan tiaoshen needling method for postherpetic neuralgia a randomized controlled trial
topic Acupuncture
Postherpetic neuralgia
Shugan Tiaoshen
Liver-soothing and mind-regulating
Pain
Efficacy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1003525725000133
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