Summary and clinical application of Zhuang medicine medicated thread moxibustion

Zhuang medicine medicated thread moxibustion is a kind of external therapy with ethnic medicine characteristics that spreads in Guangxi Zhuang region.It has a wide range of clinical application and significant curative effect,and can be used to treat diseases such as internal medicine,surgery,dermatology,gynecology,pediatrics,and five sense organs.Through reviewing and combing the literature on the Zhuang medicine medicated thread moxibustion in recent years,this paper summarizes and prospects its clinical application,with a view to further explaining the basic principles and application rules of Zhuang medicine medicated thread moxibustion and digging its clinical value.

Effect of moxibustion combined with five‑element music therapy on postoperative pain relief after mixed hemorrhoid operation

Objective:To investigate the effect of moxibustion combined with five‑element music therapy on the postoperative pain relief of patients undergoing surgical operation for mixed hemorrhoid with damp‑heat syndrome.Methods:Totally,159 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were assigned to the control group,study group 1,and study group 2,with 53 cases in each group.All patients received routine care after surgical treatment,including acupoint application and Chinese herbal fumigation.In addition,patients in the study group 1 received moxibustion,and those in the study group 2 were given moxibustion combined with five‑element music therapy.The degree of postoperative pain was evaluated using visual analog scale(VAS).Results:There was no significant difference in VAS score on pain during dressing changes among three groups(P>0.05).After 3,5,and 7 days of intervention,there was a significant difference in VAS score on pain at rest among three groups(P<0.001),and VAS score in the study group 2 was lower than that in the study group 1 and the control group after 3 and 5 days of intervention,respectively(P<0.05).Conclusion:Moxibustion combined with five‑element music therapy is effective to relieve the postoperative pain of patients undergoing a surgical operation for mixed hemorrhoids with damp‑heat syndrome.

Efficacy and safety of mild-warm moxibustion in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(spleen deficiency and dampness excess syndrome):a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

1Background:Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a disorder of bowel function,and diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)is the most common.The current treatment for IBS-D is focused on improving patients’gastrointestinal-related symptoms,but there are limitations such as unstable effects and adverse drug reactions.Acupuncture and moxibustion exerts advantages in treating IBS-D.They include several forms,of which moxibustion is one of the most commonly used.And moxibustion is a common way used in treating IBS-D,but there is a lack of relevant evidence-based medical research data.This protocol aims to compare the efficacy of moxibustion(mild-warm moxibustion)in treating IBS-D(spleen deficiency and dampness excess syndrome)with the first-line treatment.Methods:In this prospective,parallel,randomized controlled trial(RCT)protocol,patients will be randomly allocated for 4-week treatment or control therapies and then 4-week follow-up in both groups.We will use Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Symptom Severity Scale(IBS-SSS)score,Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Quality of Life(IBS-QOL)score,serum brain-gut peptide levels,and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome scale score to produce more evidence on IBS-D treatment with moxibustion.Finally,we will use SPSS 22.0 software to statistically analyze the data.Discussion:Mild-warm moxibustion is a complementary alternative therapy that fits with the pathogenesis of IBS-D.We hope to see more clinical evidence for mild-warm moxibustion against IBS-D that this RCT supported.

Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Combination Therapies for Insomnia

Insomnia, a common sleep disorder, affects general well-being, hastens the onset of other diseases, and impairs work performance. Hypnotic medications are efficacious in the short term but have obvious side effects. Acupuncture, often used to treat insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is considered to be beneficial in restoring the normal sleep-wake cycle by regulating and restoring the natural flow of qi (energy power). The three main TCM theories for treating insomnia by acupuncture are the tranquilization disturbance, zangfu disturbance (disequilibrium of internal organs), and imbalance of yin and yang theories. Moxibustion, another treatment for insomnia, is usually combined with acupuncture. Acupuncture and moxibustion with tuina (exercise massage), acupuncture with Chinese herbal injection, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture with medication or psychotherapy are other interventions. Some acupuncture-based methods such as needle-rolling acupuncture, auricular acupoint plaster therapy, phlebotomy, and acupoint catgut-embedding therapy are used as well. Although most clinical trials have shown that acupuncture and its combination therapies are significantly effective in insomnia, the beneficial effects may have been overvalued, because of small sample size, nonstrict inclusion and exclusion criteria, flawed methodology, short follow-up, or nonstandardized evaluation. Therefore, clinical studies of high methodological quality are needed to verify the efficacy of acupuncture, moxibustion, and other combination therapies in insomnia.

OBSERVATION ON THE THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF COMBINED AURICULAR-PLASTER AND MOXIBUSTION THERAPIES FOR TREATMENT OF 500 CASES OF DYSFUNCTIONAL UTERINE BLEEDING

The present study reports results of 500 cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding treatedwith combined auricular-plaster and moxibustion therapies. After treatment, 480 cases were cured,constituting 96. 0 %; 16 cases were improved, constituting 3. 2% and 4 had no any effect, constituting 0. 8 %. The total effective rate was 99. 2 %.

A study of acupoint selection rules of moxibustion and auricular point therapy in the treatment of urinary retention after anorectal surgery based on data mining

Based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System(V2.5),we explored the compatibility rules of moxibustion and auricular point prescriptions in the treatment of urinary retention after anorectal surgery,and further to obtain new prescriptions.Methods:We searched CNKI,Wanfang,VIP and CBM databases for the literature of moxibustion and auricular point therapy for urinary retention after anorectal surgery,collecting complete prescriptions and entering them into the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System(V2.5).The acupoint frequency,association rules,and combination rules were analyzed by data mining method of software integration.Results:126 moxibustion prescriptions were selected,and the acupoints for urinary retention after anorectal surgery in the literature were analyzed,including 10 acupoints with frequency≥6,9 acupoint combinations with frequency≥26,5 acupoints with association rules,6 core acupoint combinations and 3 new prescription.124 auricular point prescriptions were selected,and the relevant acupoints in the literature were analyzed,including 10 acupoints with frequency of use≥18,15 acupoint combinations with frequency≥40,12 acupoint combinations with association rules,6 core acupoint combinations,and 3 new prescriptions.The core points include Qihai(RN6),Sanyinjiao(SP6),Zhongji(RN3),Guanyuan(RN4).The auricular point therapy is more to select the tenderness points and acupoints that have an impact on the urinary system,mainly including“Pangguang”(CO9),“Shenmen”(TF4),“Shen”(CO10),“Sanjiao”(CO17),“Pizhixia”(AT4),“Niaodao”(HX3),“Fei”(CO14),“Jiaogan”(AH6a).Conclusion:Moxibustion for the treatment of urinary retention is mainly based on invigorating“Primordial Qi”and regulating the functions of“Middle Jiao”(refers to the area of the body just below the diaphragm and above the navel that helps produce delicate nutrients).The entropic clustering of complex systems excavated new prescriptions for the treatment of urinary retention after anorectal surgery,providing new ideas for future research and treatment.

STUDY ON ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION THERAPY FOR FEMALE URETHRAL SYNDROME

Among 180 patients with female urethral syndrome, 128 were treated by acupuncture and moxibustion and 52 by western medicine as controls. The short-term effective rate in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was 90.6% and the long-term effective rate, 80.4%; whereas the short-term effective rate of the control group was 26.9% (P 0.05). Sixty-nine cases from the acupuncture and moxibustion group and 39 from the control group were subjected before and after treatment to determinations of the maximal bladder pressure, maximal abdominal pressure, bladder-neck pressure, and maximal urethral closure pressure during urination. All these indexes were decreased remarkably in the acupuncture and moxibustion group, while no changes were observed in the control group.

Morphological study on colonic pathology in ulcerative colitis treated by moxibustion

AIM To observe the therapeutic effect ofmoxibustion on ulcerative colitis and itsinfluence on the colonic mucosal morphology.METHODS Forty-six patients with ulcerativecolitis were randomly divided into themoxibustion with herbal medicine underneathgroup and the western medicine group.Thirtypatients were treated with the abovemoxibustion and 16 patients with Salicylayefapyridine(SASP).The colonic mucosa of 13patients in the moxibustion group was observedby colonoscopy before and after the treatment.Mucin was also analyzed by H.E and AB-PASstaining.RESULTS Seventeen patients were clinicallycured,12 were improved and 1 unchanged in themoxibustion group.In the control group,5patients were clinically cured,7 improved and 4unchanged.Thirteen patients with active UCwere taken as the subjects for histopathologicanalysis in this study.The colonic mucosallesions were remarkably improved and thecharacteristic of the mucin also changed.Inmost sections,the chronic inflammation ofmucosa was geatly ameliorated(P【0.01).Theinflammatory cell infiltratation much decreased and neutrophils,disapeared in most sections(P【0.001).The goblet cells significantlyincreased(P【0.001);crypt paracrypt abscessor mucosal ulceration was seen(P【0.001).CONCLUSION The rate of cure of ulcerative colitis by moxibustion with herbal medicine beneath is superior to that by SASP. This sort of moxibustion can effectively improve the colonic mucosal lesions and restore the proportion of mucoprotein to near normal.

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.

Comparison of the anti-apoptotic effects of 15-and 35-minute suspended moxibustion after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Heat-sensitive suspended moxibustion has a neuroprotective effect against focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, but the underly- ing mechanisms remain unclear. The duration of heat-sensitive suspended moxibustion （usually from 30 minutes to 1 hour） is longer than traditional suspended moxibustion （usually 15 minutes）. However, the effects of 15- and 35-minute suspended moxibustion in rats with cerebra/ischemia/reperfusion injury are poorly understood. In this study, we performed 15- or 35-minute suspended moxibustion at acupoint Dazhui （GV14） in an adult rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Infarct volume was evaluated with the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride assay. Histopathological changes and neuronal apoptosis at the injury site were assessed by hematoxy- lin-eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Caspase-9 and caspase-3 expression at the in- jury site was detected using immunofluorescent staining. Bax and Bcl-2 expression at the injury site was assessed using western blot assay. In the 35-minute moxibustion group, infarct volume was decreased, neuronal apoptosis was reduced, caspase-9, caspase-3 and Bax expres- sion was lower, and Bcl-2 expression was increased, compared with the 15-minute moxibustion group. Our findings show that 35-minute moxibustion has a greater anti-apoptotic effect than 15-minute moxibustion after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

OBSERVATION OF THE EFFICACY OF ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION IN 62 CASES OF CHRONIC COLITIS

62 patients with chronic colitis were randomly divided into two groups. Acupuncture and moxibustion at acupoints such as Tianshu (St 25), Guanyuan (Ren 4) were applied in the treatment group, and western drugs were applied in the control group. The results showed that acupuncture and moxibustion had a marked curative effective with few side effects, and therefore was readily acceptable to the patients.

Twenty One Cases of Vertebral-Artery-Type Cervical Spondylosis Treated with Acupuncture and Moxibustion

The vertebral-artery-type cervical spondylosis iscommonly encountered in the middle aged and oldpeople.The author has treated 21 cases of vertebral-artery-type cervical spondylosis by acupuncture andmoxibustion,with the other 19 cases treated only byacupuncture as the controls.The results are reportedas follows.Clinical

THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF NEEDLE WARMING THROUGH MOXIBUSTION AT TWELVE SHU POINTS ON RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic andgeneral immunologic disease,mainlyinvolving the joints.Clinically,it is manifestedby morning ankylosis,arthroncus,jointdeformity and dysfunction.It falls into thecategory of arthralgia syndrome in traditionalChinese medicine(TCM).The authors havetreated 55 cases of rheumatoid arthritis byneedle warming through moxibustion

CLINICAL STUDY ON SPLEEN-STOMACH-REINFORCING MOXIBUSTION TREATMENT OF DIARRHEA-TYPE IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

In the present paper, the therapeutic effect of spleen- stomach- reinforcing moxibustion for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is observed and its underlying mechanisms on immunity are analyzed. A total of 72 IBS patients are randomly divided into moxibustion group (n= 46) and acupuncture group (control group, n = 26). Acu-points used are Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Serum IgG, IgA and IgM contents, blood T-lympocytes (T3+, T4+, T8+) counts, T4+ /T8+, cancer embryonic antigen (CEA) content, serum IL-2 and slL-2R contents are assayed for evaluating changes of the immunocompetence. After two courses of treatment (24 sessions), results show that in moxibustion group, 25 cases (54.35%) are cured, 17 experience improvement in clinical symptoms and 4 have no apparent changes, with an effective rate of 91.30% ; in control group, 8 cases (30. 78%) are cured, 12 experience improvement and 6 have no marked improvement, with an effective rate of 76.92% . The therapeutic effect of moxibustion is significantly superior to that of acupuncture (P<0.01). In addition, moxibustion can effectively rectify abnormal immune function and stabilize human's immunity. This research provides a reliable experimental basis for clinical application of 'principal prescription of moxibustion for reinforcing the spleen and stomach'.

Treatment of 482 Cases of Cervical Spondylopathy by Combining Point-injection and Needle-warming via Moxibustion

From January 1993 to December 1996, we treated 482 cases of cervical spondylopathy with a combined method of point-injection and needle-warming via moxibustion. Except for the cases of sympathetic nerve type and spinal cord type, the combined method was superior to traction therapy in the control group and reported as follows.Clinical DataThe Criteria of Diagnosis and Curative Effect in TCM issued by the State Administrative Bureau of TCM and Pharmacy in 1994 was adopted for the enrollment of patients of cervical spondylopathy and the pathological typing. Only the patients who had completed the treatment and with complete records were collected for analysis.

TREATMENT OF 80 CASES OF MALPOSITION OF FETUS BY MOXIBUSTION COMBINED WITH CHINESE DRUGS

On 80 patients with abnormal fetal position, we observed the effects of moxibustioncombined with Chinese herbs on the position of fetus. The results suggest this therapy is practical andeffective.

EFFECT OF HEALTH-PRESERVING MOXIBUSTION ON PLASMA TESTOSTERONE AND ESTRADIOL OF THE OLD PEOPLE

In the present paper, changes of plasma testosterone and estradiol contents after moxibustion were analyzed in the old subjects. Results show that plasma testosterone of the old male subjects and estradiol content of the old male and female subjects rise following moxibustion. It indicatesthat moxibustion can regulate the functional state of the hypothalam us-hypophysis- sexual glang axis,improve neuroendocrine disorder, prevent the sexual glang from atrophy and delay senility. Increase ofthe two hormones in the human body can lead to a series of regulations in other respects. Therefore,moxibustion is of an important role in delaying senility.

TREATMENT OF 42 CASES OF ASTHMA WITH ACUPUNCTURE PLUS DRUG-CAKE MOXIBUSTION

In the present paper, 42 cases of asthma patients were treated with acupuncture anddrug-cake moxibustion at Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Jueyinshu (BL 14), etc.. After treatment, of the 42 cases, 10 (23. 8 % ) had controlled their symptoms, 15 (35. 7 % ) experienced markedimprovement, l3 (31. 0 % ) had improvement and 4 (9. 5 % ) had not any effect, with the effectiverate of 90. 5 %.

CLINICAL OBSERVATION OF THE EFFECT OF HEALTH-PRESERVING MOXIBUSTION ON DELAYING AGING

The present paper reports a clinical observation of the effect of health-preservingmoxibustion in the aged people without apparent organic diseases. Results show that the health-preserving moxibustion has an evident action in lessening aging symptoms and improving physio-logic functions of the senile body. It is held in traditional Chinese medicine that from the middle-aged period on, the decline of kidney Qi is an important cause of senility and deficiency of thespleen and blood stasis also play a role in some degree. Health-preserving moxibustion ofShenque and Zusanli has actions in warming Yang, reinforcing Qi and promoting blood circulationto remove obstruction in meridians. It is thus a method for self health protection.

The Present State and Perspective in Treatment of Primary Osteoporosis by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Primary osteoporosis, a commonly encountered metabolic bone disease in the postmenopausal women and the aged people, can be classified by modern medicine into postmenopausal osteoporosis (Type I) and senile osteoporosis (Type II). The disease seriously affects health and quality of life of the people as it often cause ostealgia, fracture and the secondary symptoms or diseases. Presently, the pharmacotherapy (including both Chinese herbal drugs and western drugs) remains the first among all other therapeutic methods which are mainly adopted in treatment of the disease at home and abroad. Studies related have been curried out quite early and systematically, and considerable progress has been made, but limit of the pharmacotherapy has also been found. Certain non-drug treatments (such as dietetic therapy, physical exercise, acupuncture and moxibustion, and qigong, especially acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, although with a late start, have been proved effective with satisfactory results. The following is a summary of all the contributions concerned.……