[Clinical Trial of Acupuncture Treatment of Gastro-esophageal Reflex Disease by Needling Dorsal Segment of the Governor Vessel].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the curative effect of needling stimulation of the dorsal segment (7 spots below the spinous processes from T3 to T9) of the Governor Vessel for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

METHODS

A total of 60 cases of GERD patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group and medication group (n = 30 in each group). For patients of the acupuncture group, the depression spots below the spinous processes from T3 to T9, including both acupoints [Shenzhu (GV 12), Shendao (GV 11), Lingtai (GV 10), Zhiyang (GV 9), Jinsuo (GV 8)] and non-acupoints (T4, T8) were punctured with filiform needles, once every other day for 8 weeks. Patients of the medication group were asked to take Omeprazole capsules (20 mg/time) twice a day for 8 weeks. The curative effects were assessed by "Reflux Disease Questionnaire" score (RDQ score of heartburn, retrosternal pain, acid regurgitation and food regurgitation, 0-40 points, the "Guidelines for Clinical Research on Chinese New Herbal Drugs" (GRED symptom scale scores about the 38 symptoms of the digestive system, respiratory system, five-sense organs, cardiovascular system, back-pain, sleep, headache, daily life activity, etc. 0-114 points, 0-3 scales), and "the Consensus about Diagnosis and Treatment of GERD of Traditional Chinese Medicine", respectively.

RESULTS

Following the treatment, both RDQ score and GERD symptom scale score were significantly decreased in patients of the acupuncture and medication groups (P<0.05), and the effect of acupuncture was markedly superior to that of the medication in lowering RDQ and GERD scale scores (P<0.05). The cured plus markedly effective rate for RDQ score and the effective rate for GERD scale score were 70.0% (21/30) and 93.3% (28/30) respectively in the acupuncture group, being significantly higher than those [43.3% (13/30) and 66.7% (20/30)] in the medication group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture stimulation of the dorsal segment