Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of plum-blossom needle tapping plus moxibustion in the treatment of post-stroke neurogenic bladder(PSNB).Methods A total of 60 PSNB patients were equally randomized into control group(16 men and 14 women

65.6±7.9 years in age

10.1±6.3 months in the duration of disease)and treatment group(18 men and 12 women

63.8±8.5 years in age

9.8±6.5 months in the duration of disease).Patients of the control group were treated by asking the patients to make a pelvic muscular exercise and passive intermittent urethral catheterization.For patients of the treatment group

aplum-blossom needle was used to alternatively tap the bilateral Shenshu(BL23)

Qihaishu(BL24)

Guanyuanshu(BL26)

Xiaochangshu(BL27)

Pangguangshu(BL28)

Huiyang(BL35)

Shangliao(BL31)

etc.

followed by performing moxibustion over the skin of Shenque(CV8)

Guanyuan(CV4)

Qihai(CV6)and Zhongji(CV3)

etc.about 15 min.In addition

patients without spontaneous urination were also received urethral catheterization as those in the control group.The treatment was given once every day except the weekends and for two months.The integrated symptom score was assessed.The frequencies of diurnal urination and urinary incontinence

and the urination volume every time were respectively recorded for consecutive 3 days before and after the treatment

and the residual urine volume was also measured.The therapeutic effect was evaluated based on the status and frequency of diurnal urination and residual urine volume each time.Results Of the two 30 cases in the control and treatment groups

2(6.7%)and 5(16.7%)were cured

8(26.7%)and 12(40.0%)experienced marked improvement in their symptoms

13(43.3%)and 11(36.7%)were improved

7(23.3%)and 2(6.7%)failed

with the effective rates being 76.7% and 93.3%

respectively.The effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After the treatment

the integrated symptom score

residual urine volume

and frequencies of diurnal urination and urinary incontinence were significantly decreased

and the diurnal urination volume was obviously increased in comparison with their own pre-treatment in both groups(all P<0.05). The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group in reducing the integrated symptom score

residual urine volume

and frequencies of diurnal urination and urinary incontinence(P<0.05)

and in increasing the diurnal urination volume(P<0.05).Conclusion Plum-blossom needle tapping plus moxibustion is an effective option for the treatment of PSNB in improving symptoms

in reducing the residual urine volume and frequencies of diurnal urination and urinary incontinence

and in increasing the diurnal urination volume

deserving being promoted in primary care.