Clinical Study on Effect of Scalp-Acupuncture in Treating Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage

Objective: To study the therapeutic effect of scalp acupuncture in treating acute cerebral hemorrhage and its mechanism. Methods: Sixty four patients were randomly divided into two groups, the acupuncture group and the control group. All were treated with mannitol and furosemide to reduce intracranial pressure, and 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 carried out 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 in the acupuncture group lowered obviously after treatment, as compared with those in the control group, and the difference was significant, P <0.01. 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, and particularly effective in improving limb paralysis and aphasis caused by cerebral hemorrhage.