Chronic prostatitis treated with acupuncture and bloodletting therapy at the lumbosacral region 针刺配合腰骶刺络放血治疗慢性前列腺炎

Objective

To observe the effect of acupuncture and bloodletting therapy at the lumbosacral region for chronic prostatitis.

Methods

A total of 36 patients with chronic prostatitis were collected, and treated in the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and the External Treatment Center of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese medicine. The patients were treated with acupuncture, combined with bloodletting therapy at the lumbosacral region. The treatment for 4 weeks was as one course and 2 consecutive courses of treatment were required. The therapeutic effect, including the score of the National Institute of Health – Chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), was assessed.

Results

After 1 and 2 courses of treatment, the symptom scores and NIH-CPSI total score were all reduced as compared with that before treatment , respectively (all P < 0.01). After 2 courses of treatment, the score of each symptom and NIH-CPSI total score were reduced as compared with that after 1 course of treatment, respectively (all P < 0.01). Regrading the 3 syndromes/patterns of chronic prostatitis in the patients, i.e. downward invasion of damp heat, qi and blood stagnation and liver qi stagnation, after 1 and 2 courses of treatment, NIH-CPSI total scores were all reduced as compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.01). Additionally, after 2 courses of treatment, NIH-CPSI total score of each syndrome/pattern was reduced as compared with that after 1 course of treatment (all P < 0.01). For kidney yin deficiency, after 2 courses of treatment, NIH-CPSI total score was reduced as compared with that either before treatment or after 1 course of treatment (both P < 0.01). The total effective rate was 91.67% after 1 course of treatment and 97.22% after 2 courses of treatment. No obvious adverse events occurred during the treatment.

Conclusion

The combined treatment with acupuncture and bloodletting therapy at the lumbosacral region effectively relieves the symptoms of chronic prostatitis and improves the quality of life in the patients.