The Effect of Chinese Herbs Combined with Warm Acupuncture of moxibustion on the Patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Pain and Its Effect on MMP-2 and Hyp

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of Chinese herbs combined with warm acupuncture on the patients with temporomandibular joint disorder pain and its effects on serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 and hydroxyproline. Methods A total of 86 patients with temporomandibular joint disorder pain treated at our hospital from March. 2018 to June. 2019 were randomly divided into control group and observation group. The patients in the control group were given routine clinical treatment, while those in the observation group were treated with Chinese herbs combined with warm acupuncture. The clinical efficacy, temporomandibular joint function, pain visual analogue scale and serum levels of MMP-2 and Hyd were compared between the two groups. Results The total clinical effectiveness of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group. After treatment, the temporomandibular joint dysfunction index and the palpation index in both of two groups were significantly decreased than those before treatment, and the DI and PI in the observation group were greatly lower than those in the control group. After treatment, the VAS scores, the levels of MMP-2 and Hyd in both of two groups were noticeably decreased than those before treatment, with the three indexes significantly lower in the observation group than the control group. Conclusion Chinese herbs combined with warm acupuncture showed a high effect on treating temporomandibular joint disorder pain, as it can significantly increase the temporomandibular joint function, relieve pain, and reduce serum levels of MMP-2 and Hyd.