Objective To observe the effect of Huayu Tongluo（resolving stasis and promoting collateral circulation）moxibustion combined with intradermal needling on depressive symptoms

quality of life and cognitive impairment in patients with mild to moderate depression after cerebral infarction on the basis of western medicine treatment. Methods Fifty patients with mild to moderate depression after cerebral infarction were randomly divided into an acupuncture combined with western medication group（group A

25 cases） and a western medication group（group B

25 cases）. In the group B

paroxetine hydrochloride tablets were taken orally

20 mg after breakfast

once a day

and the dose could be adjusted to the maximum 40mg/d according to the patients’ condition

for 4 weeks totally. On the basis of the treatment in the group B

the group A was treated with Huayu Tongluo moxibustion

namely aconite cake-separated moxibustion at Baihui（GV 20） and suspended moxibustion at Dazhui（GV 14） and Shenting（GV 24）

combined with intradermal needling at Shenmen（HT 7）

Jianshi（PC 5）

Zusanli（ST 36）

etc. Huayu Tongluo moxibustion was performed 6 times a week

and intradermal needling was performed 3times a week

for 4 weeks totally. In the two groups

the scores of Hamilton depression scale（HAMD）

stroke specific quality of life scale（SS-QOL） and mini mental state examination（MMSE） were observed before and after treatment

and the clinical efficacy and safety were compared. Results After treatment

the HAMD score in the each group was decreased compared with that before treatment（P<0.05）

and that in the group A was lower than the group B（P<0.05）; after treatment

the SS-QOL score in the group A and MMSE score in the two groups were increased compared with those before treatment（P<0.05）

and the SS-QOL score in the group A was higher than the group B（P<0.05）. The total effective rate was 88.0%（22/25）in the group A

which was higher than 60.0%（15/25） in the group B（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups（4.0% [1/25] vs 16.0%[4/25]

P>0.05）. Conclusion On the basis of the treatment of western medication paroxetine hydrochloride tablets

Huayu Tongluo moxibustion combined with intradermal needling therapy can effectively improve the depressive symptoms

quality of life and cognitive impairment of patients with mild to moderate depression after cerebral infarction.