Does acupuncture work for sciatica?

Sciatica pain may occur due to long periods of sitting or long periods of physical labor. The biggest impression this disease gives people is pain. To relieve pain, the disease must be cured completely, so various methods can be tried. Some people say that acupuncture can be used to treat sciatica, and the effect is very good. So, does acupuncture work for sciatica?

① Resting needle

Acupoints selection: Main points: Huantiao (or Zhibian), Yanglingquan. Acupoint combination: If evil invades the foot-Taiyang meridian, add Weizhong, Ba Lao, Chengshan, Kunlun and Yinmen; if evil invades the foot-Shaoyang meridian, add Juegu and Qiuxu; if the pain lasts for a long time, add Shenshu.

Operation: Select all main acupoints and add auxiliary acupoints as appropriate. Deeply pierce the Huantiao point, twist it vigorously and combine it with lifting and inserting, so that the needle sensation radiates to the sole or toes; Yanglingquan also needs to be deeply pierced, and the same technique should be used to make the needle sensation reach the dorsum of the foot. The needle sensation of other acupoints should also radiate distally. Once the qi arrives, the needle will be left in place for 20 to 60 minutes depending on the severity of the pain, and the needle will be twisted and lifted every 5 to 10 minutes. Generally, the method of equal tonification and equal purgation is adopted, once a day or every other day. In severe cases, it can be done twice a day. One course of treatment is 10 to 15 times.

Efficacy: A total of 1,164 cases were treated, with an overall effective rate ranging from 88.8% to 99%.

②Electroacupuncture

Acupoints: Main points: sciatic nerve projection point (hereinafter referred to as projection point), Huantiao, L4 and L5. Acupoint combination: For dry type, add Yanglingquan, Tiaokou and Chengshan; for root type, add Weizhong and Chengfu.

Projection point location: 1/3 below the midpoint of the line connecting the posterior superior iliac spine and the tip of the coccyx to the greater trochanter of the femur.

Operation: select one main acupoint each time, for trunk type, select projection point or Huantiao, for root type, select Jiaji point, and add auxiliary acupoints as appropriate. Use a 4-inch long silver needle to pierce the projection point at an angle of 70 degrees, with the needle tip slightly tilted inward, so that the needle sensation radiates to the toes. The remaining acupoints should also be pierced deeply to induce the conducted needle sensation. Turn on the electroacupuncture device, intermittent wave, frequency 240-400 times/min, intensity based on tolerability, leave the needles in for 20-30 minutes, once a day, 10-15 times as a course of treatment.

Efficacy: A total of 226 cases were treated with the above method, with an overall effective rate of 95.7% to 97%.

③Blood pricking

Acupoints selection: divided into two groups. Group A: Huantiao, Yaoshu, Zhonglushu, Baihuanshu, Shangliao, Ciliao, Xialiao; Group B: Chengfu, Yinmen, Weizhong, Weiyang, Yangjiao, Juegu, Fuyang, Qiuxu, Kunlun.

Operation: Group A focuses on treating radicular sciatica, using 1 to 2 acupoints each time; Group B focuses on treating trunk sciatica, using 2 to 4 acupoints each time. After disinfecting with a No. 16 three-edged needle, prick the selected acupoints or veins around the acupoints to cause bleeding, about 1 to 3 fen deep, and 3 to 6 fen deep for Huantiao. Cupping is performed to stop bleeding, and the cupping is removed after 2 to 3 minutes. The amount of bleeding in the first treatment may be around 40 to 60 ml, and the second and third times may be slightly less, about 10 to 30 ml. The second treatment should be done after 2 to 3 days, and thereafter there should generally be an interval of 7 to 10 days.

Efficacy: A total of 580 cases were treated, with an overall effective rate of 93.7% to 96%.