Clinical observation of benign prostatic hyperplasia treated with scalp acupuncture and body acupuncture

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effects on benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) treated with scalp-acupuncture and body-acupuncture. Methods Two hundred and forty patients diagnosed clinically with BPH were randomly divided into 3 groups. In scalp-acupuncture group (80 cases),foot-motor-sensory area and reproductive area were selected. In body-acupuncture group (82 cases),the acupoints were selected,such as Zhōngji (中极CV 3),Guānyuan (关元CV 4) and Sānyīnjiāo (三阴交SP 6). In combined therapy group of scalp acupuncture and body acupuncture (78 cases),scalp acupuncture was applied together with body acupuncture. It was to observe the changes in prostate size,Qmax,IPSS (international prostatic symptom score) and QOL (quality of life) before and after treatment of 3 groups. Results The total effective rate was 72.5% in scalp-acupuncture group,72.0% in body-acupuncture group and 85.9% in combined therapy group of scalp acupuncture and body acupuncture. The therapeutic effect in combined therapy group was superior to that in either scalp-acupuncture group or body-acupuncture group (both P0.05). The improvements had been obtained in Qmax,post-void residual volume (PRV),IPSS and QOL after treatment in 3 groups,in which,the improvement in combined therapy group was apparent. Conclusion Either scalp acupuncture or body acupuncture relieves clinical symptoms and improves the quality of life in BPH patients. But,the best therapeutic effect has been obtained specially in the treatment with combined therapy of scalp acupuncture and body acupuncture.