Objective To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of acupoint-catgut-embedment therapy in the treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia(MGH).Methods Eighty MGH patients were equally randomized into acupoint-catgut-embedment(ACE) group and medication(Rupixiao

a herbal patent drug for relieving MGH) group according to odd-numbered days or even-numbered days of visiting.Subcutaneous catgut-embedment was performed in Wuyi(ST 15)

Rugen(ST 18)

Tanzhong(CV 17)

Xuehai(SP 10)

Zusanli(ST 36) and Yanglingquan(GB 34)

once every 15 days for 3 months.Patients of the medication group were treated by oral administration of Rupixiao(3 tablets

3 times per day

3 months altogether).The degree of breast pain and the size of the hyperplastic lump were observed before and after the treatment.Serum estrodiol

progesterone and prolactin contents on day 1 to day 3 of menstruation were detected by using an automation chemiluminescence immune analysator.Results After the treatment

of the two 40 MGH patients in the ACE and medication groups

16(40.0%) and 5(12.5%) were cured basically

8(20.0%) and 8 were improved markedly in their symptoms and signs

16(40.0%) and 22(55.0%) were effective

and 0 and 5(12.5%) failed in the treatment

with the effective rates being 100% and 87.5%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of the ACE group was significantly better than that of the medication group(P<0.05).In comparison with the pre-treatment

the pain grades and the size of the hyperplastic lump in both ACE and medication groups decreased significantly after immediate termination of the treatment and 6 months after the treatment(P<0.01)

and the therapeutic effects of the ACE group were significantly superior to those of the medication group in reducing pain grade and hyperplastic lump size(P<0.01).After the treatment

serum estrodiol and progesterone contents were decreased evidently in both ACE and medication groups(P<0.01

P<0.05).Type-B ultrasonic examination showed that of the two 40 MGH patients in the ACE and medication groups

16 and 5 cases turned to normal in their mammary glands

and the cure rate of the ACE group was evidently higher than that of the medication group(P<0.01).Conclusion Acupoint-catgut-embedment is effective in relieving MGH

and its therapeutic effect is apparently superior to that of medication(oral administration of Rupixiao).