Objective: Observing the therapeutic effect of the rmal needle (acupuncture nee dle warming through moxibustion) on clinical symptoms of rheumatic arthritis pat ients.Methods:A total of 70 cases of rheumatic arthritis outpatien ts were randomized into treatment group (n=40) and control group (n=30). Patients of treatment gro up were treated with thermal needle therapy and those of control group treated w ith only filiform needle. No significant differences between two groups were fou nd in the sex

age

duration of disease and total score of main symptoms (pain

swelling

distention

aversion to cold

heaviness and motion disturbance) before treatment. Acupoints used were Geshu (BL 17)

Shenshu (BL 23)

Zusanli (ST 36)

Jianyu (LI 15)

Quchi (LI 11)

Yangchi (TE 4)

etc.

according to syndrome diff erentiation and the locations. The treatment was given once every other day

with 10 sessions being a therapeut ic course. Results: After 2 courses of treatment

the total scores of treatmen t and control groups decreased from 6.31±2.66 and 6.28±2.30 before treatment to 1.71±1.65 and 2.55±1.99 after treatment respectively; while erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values of these two groups decreased from 24.39±15.26 mm/h and 25.1±13.98 mm/h before treatment to 10.12±4.18 mm/h and 14.10±4.01 mm/h after treatment respectively. Of the 40 and 30 cases of treatment and contr ol groups

12 and 3 were cured

26 and 21 had improvement

2 and 6 failed

with the total effective rates being 95% and 80% separately. The therapeutic effect o f treatment group was significantly superior to that of control group (P <0.05). Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of thermal needle therapy is strikingly higher than that of filiform needle therapy for rheumatic arthritis.