Notice to Contributors of WORLD JOURNAL OF ACUPUNCTURE MOXIBUSTION

World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion is an English academic journal sponsored by World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies. It is published quarterly worldwide. The focus of the journal includes, but is not confined to, clinical researches, summary of clinical experiences,

International Communication of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Popular in the West

With the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)acupuncture and moxibustion,research on acupuncture and moxibustion in the Western world is deepening.The concept of acupuncture and moxibustion popular in the West is formed.By investigating the localization of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Western world,this paper introduces several kinds of acupuncture and moxibustion popular in the West and concludes the spread of acupuncture and moxibustion popular in the West through hospitals and clinics,academic works,social organizations,education,and training.This paper provides a global vision developing domestic acupuncture and moxibustion and promoting academic prosperity and technical progress of world acupuncture and moxibustion system.

Historical review and reflections on the participation of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of epidemics in the People’s Republic of China (from 1950 until now)

Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, both the Communist Party and the government have placed great emphasis on the advancement of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture and moxibustion have been actively involved in combating major epidemics such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and COVID-19. This article conducts a historical review of these three significant cases to elucidate how the acupuncture community has effectively utilized its unique advantages and characteristics through theoretical discussions, clinical practices, experimental research, as well as receiving administrative leadership and political support from the Communist Party of China and government. We provide an objective evaluation of their effectiveness while summarizing historical experiences to serve as a reference for future utilization of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in epidemic relief efforts. Additionally, propose four suggestions: strengthening Party leadership and enhancing political support;timely summarization of experiences to establish programs and systems;deepening scientific research by integrating experimental findings with clinical practice;focusing on public awareness campaigns and education to solidify grassroots foundations.

Analysis of the Clinical Effect of Chinese Medicine Combined with Acupuncture and Moxibustion on Insomnia

Objective:To explore and analyze the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine combined with acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of insomnia.Method:80 patients with primary insomnia were selected as the study sample,with 20 cases randomly selected as the control group and the rest as the observation group.The control group was treated with ordinary western medicine,while the observation group patients were treated with traditional Chinese medicine combined with acupuncture and moxibustion based on this syndrome differentiation.The comparison items were treatment effect,sleep quality,mental health,quality of life,specific sleep indicators,cerebral blood flow and neurotransmitters.Result:The treatment effectiveness showed that the observation group had a higher treatment effectiveness rate than the control group(P<0.05);The results of sleep quality showed that after treatment,the scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group in seven dimensions:sleep quality,sleep time,sleep onset time,sleep efficiency,sleep disorders,hypnotic drugs,and daytime dysfunc‐tion score(P<0.05);The quality of life results showed that after treatment,the observa‐tion group had higher scores than the control group in eight dimensions:physiological function,physiological function,physical pain,health status,energy,social function,emotional function,and mental health(P<0.05);The results of slow wave sleep time and fast eye movement sleep time showed that after treatment,the HAMA and HAMD scores of the physiological mechanism in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);The results of cerebral blood flow and neurotransmitter indica‐tors show that after treatment,glutamateγ-The peak systolic blood flow velocity of ami‐nobutyric acid,vertebral artery,and basilar artery in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The clinical treatment of Chinese medicine combined with acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of insomnia patients can significantly improve the clinical treatment effect,and improve the cerebral hemorrhage and neurotransmitter status of patients,promote the improvement of their physical and mental status,can more significantly improve the quality of sleep,reduce sleep difficulties,reduce the dosage of sleeping pills,which has important clinical application value.

Research progress on insomnia treated by traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture based on microbial-gut-brain axis theory

Insomnia,as one of the emotional diseases,has been increasing in recent years,which has a great impact on people's life and work.Therefore,researchers are eager to find a more perfect treatment.The microbiome-gut-brain axis is a new theory that has gradually become popular abroad in recent years and has a profound impact in the field of insomnia.In recent years,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has played an increasingly important role in the treatment of insomnia,especially acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.It is the main method of TCM in the treatment of insomnia.This paper mainly reviews the combination degree of"microorganism-gut-brain axis"theory with TCM and acupuncture under the system of TCM.To explore the mechanism of TCM and acupuncture in the treatment of insomnia under the guidance of"microorganismgut-brain axis"theory,in order to provide a new idea for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia.

ANALYSIS OF REGULATION AND HARMONIZATION IMPLIED IN A-B CLASSIC ON ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION

It aims to draw the conclusion that the ideas of treatment in Zhen Jiu Jia Yi Jing （《针灸甲乙经》, A-B Classic on Acupuncture and Moxibustion ） can be summarized as ＂regulation＂ and ＂harmonization＂ through the research of words in the Classic, such as ＂being normal＂, ＂regulation＂ and ＂harmonization＂. The lost of regulation of a normal person shows disharmony. Regulation can make the person-being-sick become harmony and back to ＂being normal＂. ＂Regulation＂ and ＂harmonization＂ right imply the quintessence of traditional Chinese medicine.

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE-MOXIBUSTION PLUS CHINESE MEDICINAL HERBS ON PLASMA TXB_2, 6-Keto-PGF1α IN PATIENTS WITH VASCULAR DEMENTIA

In the present paper, changes of TXB2, 6-Keto-PGF1α contents before and after treatment by using acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese medicinal herbs and in comparison with the normal values of healthy people were observed in 30 vascular dementia (VD) patients. Results showed that in VD patients, the content of serum TXB2 increased significantly and that of 6-Keto-PG1α decreased markedly in comparison with control group (P<0. 01), suggesting a significant imbalance between plasma TXB2 and 6-Keto-PG1α; after combined treatment with acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs, the content of plasma 6-Keto-PG1α raised remarkably and that of TXBα lowered,which had a positive correlation with clinical therapeutic effect. The fact indicates that this combined treatment is capable of regulating the balance between plasma TXB2 and 6-Keto-PG1α, increasing cerebral blood flow, raising the metabolic rate of the brain tissues and improving functions of the brain.

TREATMENT OF 46 CASES OF PERIPHERAL FACIAL PARALYSIS WITH HAND ACUPUNCTURE,MOXIBUSTION AND ELECTROACUPUNCTURE

In the present paper, the therapeutic effect of hand acupuncture, moxibustion and electroacupuncture (EA) is observed in the treatment of 46 cases of peripheral facial paralysis (treatment group) and compared with that of Western medicines (prednisone, Vitamin B1 and B12, dibazol) in other 42 facial palsy patients. Acupoints used are Fenchi (GB 20), Yifeng (TE 17), Taiyang (LR 3), Yangbai (GB 14), Cuanzhu (BL 2), Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4), Shuigou (GV 26), Chengjiang (CV 24), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Jiache (ST 6). Following 20 - 30 sessions of treatment, results show that the therapeutic effect of treatment group is significantly superior to that of Western medicine group and the therapeutic duration of the former group is shorter.

Study of the mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion treatmentfor ulcerative colitis ratsinview of the gene expression of cytokines

AIM:To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA in ulcerative colitis rats.METHODS:The SD rat ulcerative colitis model was created by immunological method associated with local stimulation. Colonic mucosa was prepared from human fresh surgical colonic specimens, homogenized by adding appropriate amount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000r/min. The supernatant was collected for measurement of protein conentration and then mixed with Freund adjuvant. This antigen fluid was first injected into the plantae of the model group rats, and then into their plantae, dorsa, inguina and abdominal cavities (noFreund adjuvant for the last injection) again on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st day. When a certain titer of serum anti colonic antibody was reached, 2% formalin and antigen fluid (no Freund adjuvant) were administered separately by enema. The ulcerative colitis rat model was thus set up. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (MC, n = 8), electro acupuncture group (EA, n = 8), herbs partition moxibustion group (HPM 8), normal control group (NC,n = 8). HPM: Moxa cones made of refined mugwort floss were placed on the medicinal pad (medicinal pad dispensing: Radix Aconiti praeparata, cortex Cinnamomi, etc) for Qihai (RN 6) and Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral) and ignited. Two moxa cones were used for each acupoint once a day and 14 times in all. EA: Tianshu (bilateral) and Qihai were stimulated by the intermittent pulse with 2Hz frequency, 4mA intensity for 20 minutes once a day and 14 times in all. After treatment, rats of all four groups were killed simultaneously. The spleen was separated and the distal colon was dissected. Total tissue RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate phenol chloroform extraction method. RT-PCR technique was used to study the expression of IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA.RESULTS:IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNAs were not detected in the spleen and colonic mucosa of the NC rats, whereas they were significantly expressed in that of the MC rats.IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNAs were markedly lower in the EA and HPM rats than that in MC rats. There was no significant difference between the levels of IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNAs in the EA and HPM rats. The expressions of IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNAs were nearly the same in the spleen and colon of all groups.CONCLUSION:Acupuncture and moxibustion greatly inhibited the expression of IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA in the experimental ulcerative colitis rats.

Acupuncture and moxibustion reduces neuronal edema in Alzheimer's disease rats

To examine the possible correlation of aberrant Wnt signaling and pathological changes in Alzheimer’s disease, we established a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease and measured axin and β-catenin expression in the hippocampus. Rats were pretreated with moxibustion or electroacu-puncture, or both, at Baihui（GV20） and Shenshu（BL23）. Axin expression was lower, β-catenin expression was greater, and neuronal cytoplasmic edema was visibly prevented in the rats that had received the pretreatments. Our results suggest that the mechanism underlying the neuro-protective effect of acupuncture and moxibustion in Alzheimer’s disease is associated with axin and β-catenin expression in the Wnt signal transduction pathway.

Gene control of acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning on apoptosis in ischemic cardiac muscle of rats with re-perfusion

In order to explore the effect of acupuncture preconditioning on rats＇ cell apoptosis with cardiac muscle re-perfusion damage and bcl-2mRNA genes, we used differentiating acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning among groups, then compared acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning with ischemic preconditioning. The experimental results show that acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning makes more bcl-2mRNA genes expressed and produces less cell apoptosis, furthermore, groups of acupuncture and moxibustion preconditioning for twice a day are more effective than those of ischemic ureconditioning.

The research progress of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis

As a common and frequently-occurring disease in clinic,peripheral facial paralysis is worth paying attention to.In fact,as one of the methods for the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis,acupuncture has been widely promoted and applied in clinic,and has been recognized by doctors at home and abroad.However,there are many other factors that affect the curative effect in clinic due to their different operating methods.Therefore,there are still many disputes in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis.The relevant literatures in recent years were searched and consulted in order to understand the current situation and provide routine treatment methods for clinical acupuncturists to treat this disease.And we intended to analyze and introduce from acupuncture manipulation,warm acupuncture,electroacupuncture,giant acupuncture,fire acupuncture,acupuncture combined with massage,acupuncture timing and other treatments,and different classification of acupuncture points and methods.

Acupuncture and moxibustion treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia:a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objective: Lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) affect the quality of life of elderly individuals. Acupuncture and moxibustion are used in the clinic in China for improving LUTS symptoms due to BPH. However,there is no evidence to suggest which is the best option. We compared the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion to provide evidence for clinical decision-making.Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, and VIP databases were searched from inception to July 2020 to identify the randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of acupuncture and moxibustion for LUTS due to BPH. Two researchers filtered studies and extracted the information independently. This study conducted a network meta-analysis using the Bayesian random method. The interventions ranking was evaluated using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA).Results: We finally included 40 studies comprising 10 treating therapies and 3,655 patients with LUTS caused by BPH. In terms of the International Prostate Symptom Score, maximum urinary flow rate, and quality of life, electroacupuncture(EA) [MD =-3.6,95% credible interval(CrI)(-5.5,-1.8), very low certainty of evidence;MD = 2.2, 95% CrI(1.1, 3.3), low certainty of evidence;MD =-1.3, 95% CrI(-2.2,-0.43), very low certainty of the evidence] may be consistently the optimal treatment compared with other interventions, with SUCRA values of 84%, 81%, and 89%, respectively.Conclusions: Of all treatments, EA may have the best efficacy with fewer adverse events for LUTS due to BPH. The quality of evidence supporting this result is low to very low certainty of the evidence due to the limitations of primary studies;thus, more highquality RCTs are needed for further evidence.

Acupuncture and moxibustion for visceral pain

Totally three articles focusing on"analgesic action of suspended moxibustion effect in visceral hypersensitivity rats with irritable bowel syndrome,and changes in prokineticin 1 and prokineticin receptor 1 expression in the spinal cord,enkephalins in the spinal cord and prokineticin-1 and prokineticin receptor-1 in the colon tissue during the analgesic progress"were

Art of Nourishing Life According to the Kidney Meridian in Zhenjiu Dacheng(The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion)

“Daoyin Benjing”(Art of Nourishing Life)discusses the kidney meridian in depth.It is a dense and heterogeneous text that is heavily influenced by Daoism.The text proposes rules for the maintenance of life using language that is often cryptic and under-standable only to the initiated.This language is closely interwoven with the classical terms of traditional Chinese medicine.The kidney is the home of vital energy,which is a type of sexual energy and the root of life.Engagement in moderate sexual activity nourishes life and leads to a long life.This is the goal of every Daoist follower and the goal of every doctor.

Discussion on the advantages of acupuncture and moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19

COVID-19 belongs to the plague category of Traditional Chinese Medicine.It has been confirmed in many ancient books and modern clinical studies that the acupuncture and moxibustion can cure the plague.In this episode of COVID-19,National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jointly issued the Diagnosis and Treatment of Corona Virus Disease-19(7th edition).It mentions the treatment program of acupuncture and moxibustion participating in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.Liu Baoyan's team analyzed the ideas of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for COVID-19.However,the clinical advantages of acupuncture and moxibustion still need to be further clarified.In the treatment of many clinical symptoms of COVID-19,acupuncture therapy has a good clinical effect,so the purpose of our discussion on the advantages is to improve the clinical accuracy and efficacy.

“Focusing on Treating the Spirit(神)”in Acupuncture and Moxibustion:The Dialectical Unity of Regulating the Body and the Spirit

“Focusing on treating the spirit(神)”is an important principle in acupuncture and moxibustion.It is a unique psychosomatic therapy involving the doctor and the patient,which includes regulating the spirit and the body.Traditional Chinese medicine attaches great importance to it.Focusing on treating the spirit is also a component of the standards of medical ethics.Only when doctors have noble medical ethics can they achieve clinical treatment of the mind and give full play to their skills to cure diseases.Focusing on treating the spirit runs through the entire clinical process of acupuncture and moxibustion.Before the treatment,it is necessary to focus on the spirit to distinguish the spirit and qi.During the treatment,attention should be paid to the mind to regulate the spirit and qi.It is the premise of clinical diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion and the key to the curative effect.Focusing on treating the spirit is also in the realm of doctor-patient double treatment,which requires doctor-patient communication before treatment and the preservation of the body and spirit after treatment.Therefore,concentration of the mind is the key to acupuncture and moxibustion treatment.

EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE PLUS MOXIBUSTION OF YONGQUAN POINT ON DYSCINESIA AND BLOOD RHEOLOGY IN STROKE PATIENTS

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus moxibustion of Yongquan (KI 1) in improving stroke patients’ dyskinesia and blood rheology. Methods: 78 cases of stroke patients were treated by acupuncture and moxibustion of Yongquan (KI 1), once daily, with 20 days being a therapeutic course. Indexes of whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, platelet aggregation rate, packed cell volume and fibrinogen were detected before and after treatment. Changes of the functional activity were assessed using Barthel marking method. Results: After 2 courses of acupuncture treatment, all the above mentioned indexes and functional activity were improved significantly (P<0.05～0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion of Yongquan (KI 1) has an active effect in improving stroke patients’ dyskinesia and blood rheology.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Ectopic Endometrium

46 cases of ectopic endometrium were treated with topical medicated cake moxibustion supplemented by point-injection from March 1996 to January 2000. The results were satisfactory and a report follows.

APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLE OF "PREVENTION IN PREFERENCE TO TREATMENT OF DISEASES" IN ACUPUNCTURE-MOXIBUSTION CLINIC

In the present paper the author reviews the viewpoint of 'preventive treatment of diseases' in the ancient literature of traditional Chinese medicine (TCN) and its clinical application from (1) prevention first before the occurrence of diseases; and (2) preventing development after onset of diseases. In the preventive treatment of diseases, the ancient Chinese doctors usually (1) regulated qi of both Conception Vessel and Governor Vessel for health care; (2) performed regular moxibustion; and (3) applied plaster to the acupoint in summer for treating winter-diseases. In the treatment of diseases after onset, the ancient Chinese usually (1) tried best to make early diagnosis and early treatment; and (2) strengthened the related internal organ in advance to check their development; and (3) employed appropriate remedies to recuperate the patient's health.