Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture stimulation of Sanhuang points in the treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis(CNP)of kidney-yang deficiency type.Methods A total of 60 CNP outpatients were equally randomized into medication(control)group and acupuncture plus medication(acupuncture)group.Patients of the control group were ordered to take Tamsulosin(0.2 mg/d)for successive 8 weeks.On the basis of medication treatment

for patients of the acupuncture group

bilateral Sanhuang points including Tianhuang-fu Point(Shenguan)

Dihuang Point and Renhuang Point(at the lower leg)were needled with filiform needles which were manipulated for a while till Deqi

followed by retaining the needles for 30 min.The treatment was conducted once daily for successive 8 weeks.The therapeutic effect was evaluated in reference to the"Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Syndromes/Diseases of Traditional Chinese Medicine".The National Institutes of Health—Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index(NIH-CPSI)scores were used to assess the severity of chronic prostatitis.Routine examination of the leukocyte count in the prostatic fluid was performed before and after the treatment.Results Of the two 30 cases of the control and acupuncture groups

9 and 19 were cured

14 and 10 experienced improvement

and 7 and 1 failed in the treatment

with the effective rates being 76.67%and 96.67%

respectively.The effective rate of the acupuncture plus medication was significantly higher than that of the medication(P<0.05).After the treatment

the scores of NIH-CPSI and white blood cell counts in the prostatic fluid in both groups were significantly decreased in comparison with their own pre-treatment(P<0.05).The therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus medication was significantly superior to that of the medication alone in reducing the NIH-CPSI symptom score and the number of leukocytes in the prostatic fluid(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at Sanhuang points is effective in improving symptoms of CNP patients of kidney-yang deficiency type

and the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus medication is superior to that of medication alone.