Clinical study on brain-benefiting and collateral-sunblocking needling technique for chronic alcoholic gastritis complicated with depression

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of brain-benefiting and collateral-unblocking needling technique for chronic alcoholic gastritis complicated with depression. Methods A total of 92 cases with chronic alcoholic gastritis complicated with depression were included in this trial. They were randomly allocated into an observation group ( n = 46) and a control group ( n = 46) by random number (envelope) method. Patients in the observation group received the brain-benefiting and collateral-unblocking needling technique. Scalp points included Shenting (GV 24), Xinhui (GV 22), Qianding (GV 23), Baihui (GV 20), Chengguang (BL 6), Tongtian (BL 7) and Luoque (BL 8). Body points included Neiguan (PC 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12), Gongsun (SP 4), Shenmen (HT 7), Daling (PC 7), Qimen (LR 14), Xinshu (BL 15) and Taichong (LR 3). The control group only received the same body acupuncture as the observation group. The treatment was conducted once a day, 30 min for each treatment, and 10 times made up a course of treatment. The efficacy was observed after 3 courses of treatment, and there was a 2-d interval between two courses. Results After 3 courses of treatment, the clinical symptoms and gastroscopic features were significantly improved in the observation group than that in the control group. The clinical efficacy, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were significantly better than those in the control group (all P <0.05). Conclusion The brain-benefiting and collateral-unblocking needling technique can significantly improve clinical symptoms in patients with chronic alcoholic gastritis complicated with depression and substantially alleviate their gastroscopic features, anxiety and depression.