Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture(EA)of Jiaji(EX-B 2)plus focus-encircled needling for promoting the crust formation of herpes zoster and analgesia.Methods Eighty cases of herpes zoster patients were equally randomized into EA group [treated with EA of Ashi-point

Jiaji(EX-B 2)

Zhigou(SJ 6)and Houxi(SI 3)

once daily for 10 times] and medication group(treated with valaciclovir hydrochloride 300 mg/time

b.i.d.and vitamin B1 10 mg/time

t.i.d.

10 days).The pain severity was evaluated by using visual analogous scale(VAS)method.The time when the cutaneous scabbing area was equal or over 50% was recorded.Results After the treatment

of the two 40 cases in EA and medication groups

30(75.0%)and 15(37.5%)were cured

7(17.5%)and 12(30.0%)improved

3(7.5%)and 13(32.5%)failed

with the total effective rates being 92.5% and 67.5%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of EA was significantly superior to that of medication(P<0.01).VAS scores of both groups reduced significantly(P<0.01).Both the VAS score and the crust formation time of EA group were significantly lower than those of medication group(P<0.01).Conclusion EA of Jiaji(EX-B 2)in combination with focus-encircled needling is effective in facilitating the crust formation and pain relief in the treatment of herpes zoster

and the effect of acupuncture is superior to that of medication.