Objective: To compare the curative effects of ear-point pressure and Western medicine on unstable angina pectoris.

Methods: In the treating group, by adhesive plasters seeds of Semen Vaccariae were used for ear-point pressing on bilateral ear points: Xin, Shenmen, and Jiaogan. The ear points were pressed 5 to 7 times daily, 1 to 2 minutes each time. The plasters were changed once every 3 to 5 days, and 3 plaster changes made a course. At the attack of angina pectoris the pressure was applied more intensively and frequently, and 500ml of 0.9% NaCl added with l0mg of nitroglycerin were intravenously dripped. It was given once daily, and 5 times of treatments constituted a course. After discharge of patients from the hospital, ear-point pressure was continuously applied for a half to 2 ears with an average of 1 .5 years, and a 2 year- follow up was made. In the control group, 10mg of isosorbide dinitrate, and 10mg of nifedipine were orally administered 3 times daily. At the attack of angina peccary nitroglycerin was sublingually administered with intravenous dripping similar to that in the treating group. After the condition became stable, isosorbide dinitrate, and nifedipine were continuously given.

Rresults: Among the 37 cases in the treating group, 16 cases were obviously improved showing disappearance of the symptoms for 1 month with normalized ECG, 21 cases improved showing alleviated symptoms, and less severity with improved ECG. The total effective rate was up to 100%. Among the 30 cases in the control group, 8 cases were markedly improved, 16 cases improved, and 6 cases unimproved showing no changes in attach severity and frequency without ECG improvement or even with deteriorated ECG. The total effective rate was 80%.In the former group, no acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurred, but 2 cases of AMI occurred in the latter group. The 2 cases with remote AMI were survived. After being discharged from the hospital 32 of the 37 cases in the treating group, amounting to 86.49%, could restore to work or resume the activity, while only 18 of the 30 cases in the control group (60%) restored the ability. The life quality of the patients in the treating group was better than that in the control group.

By Yang Guang