HomeIngredientGinger-indirect moxibustion plus acupuncture versus acupuncture alone for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Ginger-indirect moxibustion plus acupuncture versus acupuncture alone for chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

August 20, 2022

J Tradit Chin Med. 2022 Apr;42(2):242-249. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20211214.003.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of ginger-indirect moxibustion for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: In this central randomized, controlled trial, 290 CFS participants were recruited and randomly allocated to group A (ginger-indirect moxibustion plus acupuncture) or group B (acupuncture alone). The study consisted of a treatment period of 8 weeks with a total of 24 treatments (3 sessions per week, every other day), and a follow-up period of 12 weeks. The outcome was measured by Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Psychological Health Report (SPHERE), the Self-rating depression scale (SDS) and the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 20 weeks.

RESULTS: With the treatment undergoing, the changes of FSS, SPHERE, SDS and HAMA scores in both groups increased gradually, and the effect maintained at the 12th week. Between groups, significantly higher score changes were seen in group A in FSS after 4 weeks treatment (11.94 9.12, 95%: 0.94, 4.7) and in SPHERE after 2 weeks treatment (3.7 2.27, 95%: 0.56, 2.31). But for SDS and HAMA, the improvement did not differ significantly between groups. No severe adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION: Ginger-indirect moxibustion is a safe and effective intervention to relieve fatigue and accompanying physical symptoms of CFS.

PMID:35473345 | DOI:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20211214.003

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Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.