[Clinical effect and mechanism of yizhen therapy on post-herpetic neuralgia].

Researchers in China studied whether a specialized acupuncture technique called yizhen therapy could help patients suffering from post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), the persistent nerve pain that can occur after a shingles outbreak. The study followed 92 patients for two weeks of treatment plus a one-month follow-up period. Participants were divided into three groups: one received yizhen therapy (a type of acupuncture targeting specific spinal points and painful areas), another received standard acupuncture, and a third received sham acupuncture where needles touched but didn't penetrate the skin. All patients also took pregabalin, a standard pain medication. The yizhen therapy group showed the best results, with 93% of patients experiencing significant improvement compared to 80% in the standard acupuncture group and only 53% in the sham group. Patients who received yizhen therapy reported less pain, better sleep, and reduced anxiety and depression. Blood tests revealed that yizhen therapy lowered inflammatory markers and pain-related substances in the body more effectively than other treatments. The improvements lasted at least one month after treatment ended, and no significant side effects were reported. These findings suggest that combining yizhen acupuncture with standard medication may be more effective than medication alone for managing the chronic pain of post-herpetic neuralgia. If you're considering acupuncture for nerve pain, seek a licensed acupuncturist trained in traditional Chinese medicine techniques.

This randomized, single-blind trial (n=90) compared yizhen therapy plus pregabalin versus conventional acupuncture or sham acupuncture for post-herpetic neuralgia over two weeks. The yizhen group received treatment at Jiaji (EX-B2) and Ashi points for 15-20 minutes, 5 consecutive days weekly. Primary outcomes included SF-MPQ scores and serum levels of SP, IL-6, and TNF-α. The yizhen group demonstrated superior total effectiveness (93.33%) compared to conventional acupuncture (80.00%) and sham (53.33%, P<0.05). Yizhen therapy significantly reduced HAMD, HAMA, PSQI, and SF-MPQ scores versus both control groups at post-treatment and one-month follow-up (P<0.05). Serum inflammatory markers (SP, TNF-α, IL-6) decreased significantly in the yizhen group compared to other groups. Adverse events were comparable across groups. Clinical takeaway: Yizhen therapy combined with pregabalin demonstrates superior efficacy for PHN management through modulation of inflammatory pathways and pain mediators, with sustained benefits at one-month follow-up.