Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1999 Apr; 19(4): 203-5.

[Clinical study on effect of scalp-acupuncture in treating acute cerebral hemorrhage]

Li J, Xiao J.

Dong Guirong Beijing Railway Hospital, Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of scalp-acupuncture in treating acute cerebral hemorrhage and its mechanism. METHODS: Sixty-four patients were divided into two groups, the acupuncture group and the control group. All were treated with mannitol and furosemide to reduce intracranial pressure, p-aminomethyl benzoic acid for hemostasis. The acupuncture group received scalp-acupuncture additionally. Neurofunction deficit scoring (NDS), hemorheology, thromboxane, prostacyclin, endothelin and transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonic examination were taken before and after treatment. RESULTS: NDS of the acupuncture group was markedly better than that of the control group, especially in function recovering of limbs and speech. Blood viscosity, thromboxane and endothelin level of the acupuncture group lowered obviously, as compared with the control group, the difference was significant, P < 0.05. TCD showed that the cerebral blood flow was markedly improved in the acupuncture group. CONCLUSION: Scalp-acupuncture is safe and effective in treating acute cerebral hemorrhage, it is particularly effective in recovering limb paralysis and speech disturbance caused by cerebral hemorrhage.