Objective To observe the curative effect of Chinese drugs-paste separated moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture (EA) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods A total of 124 cases of KOA patients were randomly and equally divided into moxibustion plus electroacupunture (M+EA) group and medication group by using a random table. Chinese drugs-paste separated moxibustion was applied to Shenque (CV 8) for 9 moxa-cones

combined with EA (4 Hz/20 Hz

1-2 mA) of Liangqiu (ST 34)

Heding (EX-LE 2)

Neixiyan (EX-LE 4)

etc. for 30 min

once daily

5 sessions a week. Patients of medication group were treated by oral administration of Antine Capsule (diclofenac sodium

50 mg

twice daily). After 4 weeks of treatment

the therapeutic effect was evaluated. Results Compared with pre-treatment

the knee-joint pain scores and the indexex of severity of osteoarthritis of both M+EA and medication groups decreased significantly after termination of the treatment and 10 weeks after the treatment ( P<0.01 )

and those of M+EA group were markedly lower than those of medication group ( P<0.05 ). After the treatment

of the two 62 cases in medication and M+EA groups

3 (4.8%) and 8 (12.9%) were under control in their symptoms

16 (25.8%) and 21 (33.9%) had remarkable improvement

31 (50.0%) and 27 (43.5%) were effective

12 (19.4%) and 6 (9.7%) failed in the treatment

with the effective rates being 80.6% and 90.3% respectively. Ten weeks after the treatment

of the two 62 cases in medication and M+EA groups

1 (1.6%) and 7 (11.3%) were under control

10 (16.1%) and 19 (30.6%) had marked improvement

31 (50.0%) and 28 (45.2%) were effective

20 (32.3%) and 8 (12.9%) failed in the treatment

with the effective rates being 67.7% and 87.1%

respectively.The curative effect of M+EA group was significantly superior to that of medication group (P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion Chinese drugs-paste-separated moxibustion combined with EA is effective in the treatment of KOA of cold-damp type.