Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of variable-frequency electroacupuncture(EA) combined with herbal-moxa moxibustion for regional neuralgia in herpes zoster(HZ) patients.Methods A total of 37 cases of HZ outpatients were randomized into treatment group(18 cases) and medication group(19 cases).For patients of the treatment group

EA(100 Hz for the 1st 10 min

then 2 Hz for 30 min) plus herbal-moxa roll(15 cm in length

containing components of corydalis tuber

astragali radix

myrrh

etc.) moxibustion(till local skin flushing

and the patient's warm feeling penetrated from the skin surface to the deeper subcutaneous tissues

ignited nine times repeatedly) was applied to Jiaji(EX-B 2) and Ashi-point

once daily for 7 days.Patients of the medication group were ordered to take Brufen(0.3 g

b.i.d.)

vitamin B 1(10 mg

t.i.d.) and vitamin E(100 mg

b.i.d).The visual analog scale(VAS) was used to assess the HZ patients' pain reaction before and after the therapy.Results After one course of treatment

of the 19 and 18 HZ patients in the medication and treatment groups

1(5.26%) and 5(27.77%) were cured

13(68.42%) and 12(66.67%) ameliorated

5(26.32%) and 1(5.56%) invalid

with the total effective rates being 73.68% and 94.44% respectively.The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the medication group(P<0.05).VAS scores of both groups were decreased considerably following the treatment(P<0.05)

but showed no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Variable-frequency EA plus herbal-moxa roll moxibustion is effective in relieving neuralgia of HZ patients.