A Comparison of Effectiveness of Moxibustion and Acupuncture on Pain Relief for Lumbar Herniated Disc

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Published: Apr 30, 2019
Keywords:
acupuncture moxibustion back pain from lumbar disc herniation nerve pain lower back pain

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Nakornsub Lawcharoen
Traditional Chinese medicine department, School of Health Sciences, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
Thawinee Chuayure
Traditional Chinese medicine department, School of Health Sciences, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion in reducing back pain from lumbar disc herniation nerves pain. 79 volunteer patients were selected from Po District Health Promotion Hospital, Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai Province who had been diagnosed with symptoms of back pain from lumbar herniated disc. Pain levels felt by the volunteers were measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The patients were divided into two groups. There were 40 patients in the experimental group treated by moxibustion and 39 patients in the control group treated by acupuncture. Both groups selected SHENSHU point (BL23), DACHANGSHU point (BL25), ZHIBIAN point (BL54) and HUANTIAO point (GB30) for treatment. Treatment occurred once a week for 20 minutes,  for a total of 8 times. The score was measured once the course of treatment had ended. The data were collected again in both groups. The results of the pain study showed that the control group had an average pain score of 2.38 ± 0.88 and the experimental group had an average pain score of 2.88 ± 0.91. The mean pain scores for both groups from before and after the treatment were then compared. The differences were statistically significantly (p < 0.05). The pain scores in both groups were not statistically different (p > 0.05). The results indicate that moxibustion is as effective as acupuncture in reducing back pain from lumbar disc herniation nerve pain. This may be an alternative to treating back pain.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 17 No. 1 (2019): January- April 2019
Section
Original Articles

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