The application of acupuncture proved notably effective in alleviating pain and managing symptoms in patients suffering from herpes zoster.
The methodology of this study involved conducting a systematic review of clinical trials related to acupuncture and electro-acupuncture treatment for herpes zoster up until October 2022. The trials included were those that utilized acupuncture. The primary outcomes analyzed were visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Secondary outcomes encompassed time intervals to pain relief and elimination, stages of incrustation, and decrustation, as well as the final incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
In the analysis of results, it was noted that compared with conventional medication therapy, acupuncture was linked with a considerable improvement in pain as measured by the VAS and in overall treatment effectiveness. There were also improvements in times to pain relief and elimination. Additionally, significant improvements were noted in the timeframes to the end of new blister formation, incrustation, and decrustation. Importantly, the incidence of PHN was lower among patients who underwent acupuncture treatments, suggesting that acupuncture could be a viable treatment option for managing pain and related symptoms in patients with herpes zoster.
