Treatment of hearing loss with “fameng needling” in Nèijīng

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of treatment of hearing loss with “fameng needling” in Nèijīng (, The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic).MethodsSeventy patients with hearing loss were divided into “fameng needling” group (group A) and conventional acupuncture group (group B) randomly by sortition, with 35 patients in each. “Fameng needling” was applied in patients in group A. Bilateral antitragi were pressed by middle fingers for covering the earholes, twirling for reduction was conducted by thumbs and index fingers, and then the middle fingers, thumbs and index fingers loosened suddenly after the patients felt sore or numb inside the ears. Conventional acupuncture treatment was adopted for patients in group B. Treatment for ten times was considered as one course of treatment, and clinical efficacy and electro-audiometry evaluation of all the patients were observed after three courses of treatment.ResultsThe total effective rate of group A was 91.43%, which was superior to that of group B (71.43%), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The electro-audiometry evaluation results of the two groups after treatment improved when compared with that before treatment, the result in group A was (37.01±19.43) dBHL, which was superior to that of group B (49.85±21.29) dBHL, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.01).Conclusion“Fameng needling” is an effective method for treatment of hearing loss, which is worth promoting and applying clinically.