The effect of acupuncture in chronic intractable epilepsy. [Clinical observation on catgut implantation at acupoint for treatment of general paroxysmal epilepsy].
We examined the effect of acupuncture on epileptic seizures in humans in a controlled clinical setting. Treatment was administered by two Chinese professors of acupuncture. Effect was measured by change in seizure frequency. Twenty-nine patients with chronic intractable epilepsy completed the study. They were randomized in two groups; 15 were given classical acupuncture and 14 were given sham acupuncture. There was a reduction in seizure frequency in both groups, which did not reach a level of statistical significance. There was also an increase in the number of seizure-free weeks in both groups, which reached a level of significance in the sham group. Thus, we have not been able to prove a beneficial effect of acupuncture in chronic intractable epilepsy.
                Copyright 1999 BEA Trading Ltd. To search for an effective method for treatment of general paroxysmal epilepsy.
                One hundred cases were randomly divided into a treatment group of 50 cases treated with catgut implantation at Dazhui (GV 14), Jinsuo (GV 8), Fenglong (ST 40), etc., and a control group of 50 cases treated with oral administration of sodium valproate.
                The scores for epilepsy after treatment significantly improved in the both groups (P<0.05); the total effective rate was 94.0% in the treatment group and 82.0% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).
                Catgut implantation at acupoint has a definite therapeutic effect on general paroxysmal epilepsy with no adverse effect.
The current evidence does not support acupuncture for treating epilepsy.