Objective To observe the effects of pricking and cupping therapy combined with Chinese herbal wet compress on Th1/Th2 balance and the concentration of substance P(SP) in treatment of patients with herpes zoster at acute stage and explore the mechanism of clinical efficacy of this combined therapeutic method. Methods The patients of herpes zoster at acute stage were randomly divided into a treatment group(58 cases)

a control group No.1(57 cases)

a control group No.2(58 cases) and a control group No.3(59 cases). In the treatment group

the therapeutic regimen was pricking and cupping+Chinese herbal wet compress+basic treatment. In the control group No.1

pricking and cupping + basic treatment were administered. In the control group No.2

Chinese herbal wet compress+basic treatment were provided. In the control group No.3

only basic treatment was delivered. The treatment duration was 9 days in each group. The score of pain degree

the score of sleep quality and the rehabilitation conditions of pain and herpes were observed in 4 groups. The concentration of serum interleukin 4(IL-4)

interferon gamma(IFN-γ) and SP were detected by ELISA. The clinical efficacy was evaluated. The occurrence of adverse reaction during treatment was observed. Results After treatment

the score of pain degree and the concentrations of serum IL-4 and SP were all lower than those before treatment in 4 groups(P<0.05); and the score of subjective sleep quality

the concentrations of serum IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 were all increased in comparison with those before treatment(P<0.05). In the treatment group and the control groups No.1 and No.2

the score of pain degree and the concentrations of serum IL-4 and SP were all lower than those in the control group No.3(P<0.05); and the score of subjective sleep quality

the concentrations of serum IFN-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 were higher than those in the control group No.3

respectively(P<0.05). Besides

every indicator in the treatment group was improved more significantly than that either in the control group No.1 or the control group No.2(P<0.05). After treatment

compared with the control group No.3

the time of pain relief and disappearance

and the time of blister termination

incrustation and decrustation were all shorter in the treatment group

the control group No.1 and the control group No.2 separately(P<0.05); and every indicator in the treatment group was reduced more significantly in comparison with either the control group No.1 or the control group No.2(P<0.05). The total effective rate in the treatment group(96.55%

56/58)

the control group No.1(92.98%

53/57) and the control group No.2(91.38%

53/58) was higher than that in the control group No.3(74.58%

44/59

P<0.05). No any adverse reaction occurred in the 4 groups. Conclusion The pricking and cupping therapy combined with Chinese herbal wet compress effectively promotes the recovery of Th1/Th2 balance and reduces the concentration of serum SP in patients with herpes zoster at acute stage. This combined therapeutic regimen is conductive to the recovery of patients

the improvement of therapeutic effects and the decrease of the risk of pos-therpetic neuralgia.