Observation on theraputic effect of five-needle-in-nape acupuncture for treatment of poststroke pesudobulbar paralysis dysphagia

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of five-needle-in-nape acupuncture treatment and the routine acupuncture treatment for poststroke pesudobulbar paralysis dysphagia.

Methods: Sixty cases were randomly divided into a five-needle-in-nape (FNN) group and a routine acupuncture (RA) group (n=30 in each group). Ya-men (GV 15), Tianzhu (BL10), Zhiqiang acupoint (Extra) were needled and the training of swallowing was practiced when needling in FNN group. Lianquan (CV 23), Tongli (HT 5), Zhaohai (KI 6) were needled in RA group. The course of acupuncture treatment consisted of needling once time every day, six times a week for two weeks. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after two courses of acupuncture treatment.

Results: The effective rate was 93.3% in FNN group, better than that of 80.0% in RA group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The therapeutic effect in FNN group was better than that of RA group for poststroke pesudobulbar paralysis dysphagia.