Objective To compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with fire dragon moxibustion and simple acupuncture therapy in the treatment of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy(CSR)of kidney-deficiency-cold type.Methods Ninety kidney-deficiency-cold type CSR outpatients were randomly divided into control(acupuncture

n=40)and treatment(acupuncture +moxibustion

n=50)groups.Acupuncture stimulation was applied to Dazhui(GV 14)

Ganshu(BL 18)

Tianzhu(BL 10)and Houxi(SI 3)

Jiaji(EX-B 2)

Taixi(KI 3)

Shenmai(BL 62)

Zusanli(ST 36)

Shenshu(BL 23)

etc once daily

5times a week

and two weeks altogether

except the weekend.In addition

for patients of the treatment group

herbal medicinal powder separated-fire dargon moxibustion was applied to the patient's back from GV14 and Fengmen(BL 12)on the top to Zhibian(BL 54)area at the buttock

once every 3days

5times altogether.The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to"CSR-20-points scale"including 3aspects as neck-shoulder pain

upper-limb pain-numbness

finger numbness;working and daily life ability and physical conditions(Spurling tests

sensory

myodynamia and tendon reflex).Results1 After the treatment

CSR-20-points scores in both treatment and control groups were significantly increased in comparison with pre-treatment in each group(P<0.05)

with the score being markedly higher in the treatment group than in the control group(P<0.05).2 Of the 40 and 50cases in the control and the treatment group

2and 13 were cured

14 and 24experienced a remarkable improvement

12 and 11were effective

and 12 and 2failed

with the total effective rates being 70.0%(28/40)and96.0%(48/50)

respectively.The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was notably better than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture combined with fire dragon moxibustion is superior to simple acupuncture therapy in improving clinical symptoms of patients with CSR of kidney-deficiency-cold type

being a recommendable scheme in clinical practice.