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Wake-Promoting Effect of Bloodletting Puncture at Hand Twelve Jing-Well Points in Acute Stroke Patients: A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To assess the effect and safety of bloodletting puncture at hand twelve Jing-Well points (HTWPs) in acute stroke patients with conscious disturbance.

Methods

In this multi-center and randomized controlled trial, 360 patients suffered from ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with conscious disturbance within 48 h from the onset of symptom were divided into bloodletting (180 cases) and control (180 cases) groups using a block randomization. Patients in both groups received routine Western medicine, and patients in the bloodletting group received additional bloodletting puncture at HTWPs on admission immediately before conventional treatment. The primary outcome measure was Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and the secondary outcomes included blood pressure, respiratory rate and pulse rate. All variables were evaluated at baseline (before bloodletting), 0 (after bloodletting immediately), 15, 30, 50 and 80 min post bloodletting.

Results

At 80 min post bloodletting, the proportion of patients with improved consciousness in the bloodletting group was greater than the control group (P<0.05). In the separate analysis of moderate consciousness disturbance subgroup, bloodletting therapy benefited ischemic patients, and improved the eye and language response of GCS score at 15, 30, 50, 80 min post bloodletting (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No significant differences were observed regarding the secondary outcomes between two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The bloodletting puncture at HTWPs was safe and could improve conscious levels of ischemic stroke patients, highlighting a first-aid intervention for acute stroke. (Registration No. ChiCTR-INR-16009530)

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Acknowledgment

We thank Dr. DING Jing worked in Tianjin Huanhu Hospital for part of the data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, the Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, 710032, China

    Nan-nan Yu

  2. Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China

    Nan-nan Yu, Zhi-fang Xu, Xue Zhao, Dan Zhou, Ze-lin Chen, Xing-fang Pan & Yi Guo

  3. Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China

    Zhi-fang Xu, Xue Zhao, Dan Zhou, Ze-lin Chen & Xing-fang Pan

  4. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China

    Yang Gao

  5. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300150, China

    Zhi-liang Zhou

  6. The Third Department of Encephalopathy, Xi’an Encephalopathy Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, 710032, China

    Zhen-guo Wang

  7. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China

    Yi Guo

Authors
  1. Nan-nan Yu
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  2. Zhi-fang Xu
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  7. Zhen-guo Wang
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Contributions

Guo Y was responsible for the study design. Xu ZF, Pan XF and Chen ZL provided clinical advice for treatment design. Wang ZG and Chen ZL provided statistical advice. Gao Y, Zhou ZL and Pan XF were the site coordinators and helped in monitoring recruitment progress. Yu NN was responsible for data collection. Zhao X and Zhou D were responsible for monitoring the operation of acupuncture. Yu NN, Xu ZF and Guo Y drafted the manuscript. Yu NN, Xu ZF, Zhao X, Wang ZG, Chen ZL Pan XF and Guo Y were responsible for revising the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xing-fang Pan or Yi Guo.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2014CB543201) and Clinic Study for Acupoints Dictionary of People’s Republic of China (No. 03XDLZ14)

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Yu, Nn., Xu, Zf., Gao, Y. et al. Wake-Promoting Effect of Bloodletting Puncture at Hand Twelve Jing-Well Points in Acute Stroke Patients: A Multi-center Randomized Controlled Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 27, 570–577 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-020-3093-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-020-3093-8

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