Effects of mixed-frequency electroacupuncture therapy combined with ginger interposed moxibustion on patients with lumbar disc herniation complicated by sciatica

JIANG Yuqin; WANG Hong; MOU Jin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-3429.2025.18.021

Abstract：Objective To observe the effects of mixed-frequency electroacupuncture therapy combined with ginger interposed moxibustion on symptoms,lumbar spine function and inflammation levels in patients with lumbar disc herniation(LDH)accompanied by sciatica.Methods Sixty patients with LDH accompanied by sciatica and cold-dampness syndrome who visited the hospital from January 2022 to December 2023 were selected and divided into the combination group(n=30)and the single treatment group(n=30)by the random number table method.The single treatment group was treated with mixed frequency electroacupuncture therapy,while the combination group was treated with mixed frequency electroacupuncture therapy combined with ginger interposed moxibustion.The changes in Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)pain scores,Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)scores,and TCM syndrome scores of the two groups were evaluated.The lumbar spine range of motion(ROM),inflammation-related factors[monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),interleukin-1 α(IL-1α),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)],endurance values of lumbar and abdominal muscles,and nerve conduction velocity of the two groups were detected.Results The VAS pain scores and TCM syndrome scores of the single treatment group and the combination group were lower after treatment than those before treatment,and were even lower in the combination group(P<0.05,P<0.01).The JOA scores of the single treatment group and the combination group increased after treatment compared with those before treatment,and the combination group had a higher score(P<0.05,P<0.01).The ROM of the lumbar vertebrae in all directions and the endurance values of the lumbar and abdominal muscles in both the single treatment group and the combination group increased after treatment compared with those before treatment,which were greater or higher in the combination group(P<0.05,P<0.01).After treatment,the levels of MCP-1,IL-1αand TNF-α in both the single treatment group and the combination group were lower than those before treatment,which were even lower in the combination group(P<0.05).The conduction velocities of the common peroneal and common tibial nerves in the single treatment group and the combination group were greater after treatment than those before treatment,and were even greater in the combination group(P<0.05).Conclusion Mixed-frequency electroacupuncture therapy combined with ginger interposed moxibustion improves lumbar spine function,inhibits the release of inflammatory factors,and improves endurance values of lumbar and abdominal muscles in patients with LDH with sciatica.