The therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture and auricular plasters in 32 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome

By: Yuemei, Li

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease whose pathogenesis is still uncertain, although it is probably related to dysfunction of the nervous, immune and motor systems as a result of viral infection. In TCM theory it is classified as 'consumptive disease', and is caused by physical and mental overwork, excessive emotional stimulation and an unhealthy lifestyle. It is characterised by long-term fatigue, poor concentration, low-grade fever, insomnia and systemic pain, all of which have a serious impact on normal daily functioning. In this study 64 patients were selected according to established diagnostic criteria and divided equally into two statistically comparable groups. Their ages ranged from 20-62 years and the disease duration was 8 months--16 years. The treatment group was given electro-acupuncture on 8-10 of the Huatojiaji M-BW-35 points between T1 and L5. Qihai REN-6 and Zusanli ST-36 were added for physical fatigue and Sishencong M-HN-1 for mental fatigue and treatment was given daily for 30 minutes. Press studs were also applied to ear Shenmen, Sympathetic, and Subcortex, with 2-3 additional points selected from ear Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung and Kidney according to the diagnosis. Each point was pressed for five minutes, three times daily. The treatment group was given three 10-day treatment courses with an interval of three days between courses. The control group was given a daily dose of hydrocortisone for a course of 10 days, followed by diminishing doses of the drug for two further courses. The results showed a total effectiveness rate of 93.75% in the treatment group, compared to 75% in the control.