In order to investigate the function of the external therapy for osteoporosis (OP),60 rats were divided into
four groups.Group I was the normal control group,and Group Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ were treated with different methods,after OP models were established by continuous intramuscular injection of dexamethasone (DXM).Group Ⅱ was a model control group,without any treatment.Group Ⅲ was a group for the internal therapy and fed with “Added Six Ingredient and Rehmannia Pills”.Group Ⅳ was a group for the external therapy and treated by applying
“Anti-Osteoporosis Acupoint Plaster”(AOAP)(composed of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata,Cortex Moutan Radicis,Herba Epimedii,and Herba Speranskiae,etc.)on Feiyang (BL 58)and Shenshu (BL 23).After 12 weeks,bone density (BD),trace element of the lumbar vertebra,estradiol (E 2) and
Testosterone (T) were determined.The results showed that BD level of the rats in Group Ⅲ and Ⅳ was elevated obviously and also the disturbance of sexual hormone and trace elements caused by exogenous DXM could be corrected,in comparison with Group Ⅱ (P<001).The findings indicate that AOAP and the preparation to tonify the kidney,refill essence,benefit marrow and support the bone for the internal therapy possess the functions to regulate endocrine (sex gland axis) and correct abnormal loss of bone salt,similar to the treatment of osteoporosis.