Therapeutic Effect of Acupoint Application of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint application of Chinese herbal medicine for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Methods Sixty CFS patients were equally randomized into two groups. The treatment group was given acupoint application of Chinese medicinal ointment on points of Dazhui, Guanyuan, Zhongwan, and Zusanli. The control group was given acupoint application of placebo ointment on points of Dazhui, Guanyuan, Zhongwan, and Zusanli. The two groups received the acupoint application once per day, one hour for each time, and ten times constituted one treatment course. The treatment lasted two courses, and one-week break was carried out between the two courses. The therapeutic effect was evaluated, and the changes of symptom scores were observed before and after treatment. Results In the treatment group, 14 patients were cured, 7 markedly effective, 6 effective, 3 ineffective, and the total effective rate was 900%. In the control group, no one patient was cured, 2 markedly effective, 8 effective, 20 ineffective, and the total effective rate was 334%. The therapeutic effect in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P001). After treatment, the symptom score was improved in the two groups (P001 as compared with that before treatment), and the improvement was obvious in the treatment group (P001). Conclusion Acupoint application of Chinese herbal medicine exerts certain effect for chronic fatigue syndrome by relieving clinical symptoms.