Research progress on modern mechanism of“moxibustion can be used for heat syndrome”

The authors have retrieved the experimental literature on moxibustion in treatment of heat syndrome in recent years, and summarized the mechanism of moxibustion in treatment of heat syndrome from such aspects as ant-ipyretic and anti-infective effect of moxibustion, the effect on peripheral metabolism of humoral factors and the level of central neurotransmitter, and the regulation of immune function through sorting and analysis, thus providing experimental evidences for the feasibility and effectiveness of ＂moxibustion can be used for heat syndrome＂, and providing ideas and direction for future researches.

Heated Moxibustion and Bloodletting in Tibetan Medical Literature of Dunhuang Heritage

The paper introduces the heated moxibustion and bloodletting in Tibetan medical literature of Dunhuang Heritage.It proves that the external therapies in Tibetan medicine such as heated moxibustion and bloodletting are of very high level since the 8th century,which inspires current clinical practice.It also shows that the extensive exchange between Tibetan medicine and various kinds of medicine such as Chinese medicine promoted the development of Tibetan medicine.

Curative effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion on chronic persistent asthma: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE:To compare the curative effects of heat-sensitive moxibustion with conventional drugs on chronic persistent asthma and seek a valuable therapy to replaceWestern Medicine.METHODS:The participants in this multi-center,randomized,and controlled study were randomly divided into two groups:group A(n=144),treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion(50 sessions)and group B(n=144),treated with Seretide(salmeterol50μg/fluticasone 250μg,twice a day).The scores of asthma control test(ACT),forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1),peak expiratory flow(PEF),and attack frequency were measured after 15,30,60,and 90 days of treatment.Patients followed up3 and 6 months after treatment.RESULTS:There was a significant difference(P=0.0002)in the ACT score and lung function between the two groups after 3 months of treatment and(P=0.000 03)during the follow-up visits.In addition,heat-sensitive moxibustion reduced attack frequency in the period from inclusion to the6-month follow-up visit.CONCLUSION:This study shows that heat-sensitive moxibustion may have a comparable curative effect toSeretide(salmeterol/fluticasone)on asthma.

Efficacy of knee-balancing manipulation plus heat-sensitive moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis and its influence on CTX-Ⅰ,TRACP-5b,ADAMTS-4,and MMP-3

Objective To observe the efficacy of knee-balancing manipulation plus heat-sensitive moxibustion in treating knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and its impact on the expression of C-telopeptide of type I collagen(CTX-Ⅰ),tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b(TRACP-5b),A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4(ADAMTS-4),and matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP-3).Methods A total of 134 unilateral KOA patients were randomized into a knee-balancing group,a heat-sensitive moxibustion group,and a joint intervention group.The knee-balancing group received knee-balancing Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)manipulation for treatment.The heat-sensitive moxibustion group received heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment.The joint intervention group received the heat-sensitive moxibustion in addition to the knee-balancing manipulation.The intervention period lasted for four weeks.After the treatment,and at the 2-week and 6-week follow-ups,the three groups were assessed using the visual analog scale(VAS)for knee joint pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis index(WOMAC),and clinical efficacy was also evaluated.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to detect the expression levels of serum CTX-Ⅰ,TRACP-5b,ADAMTS-4,and MMP-3.Results The knee-balancing group had 44 participants,but one dropped out;there was no dropout case among the 44 participants in the heat-sensitive moxibustion group;among the 46 participants in the joint intervention group,two cases dropped out.After the treatment,and at the 2-week and 6-week follow-ups,the total effective rate was found higher in the joint intervention group than in the knee-balancing and heat-sensitive moxibustion groups(P<0.05).Compared with the baseline,the VAS and WOMAC scores and the serum levels of CTX-Ⅰ,TRACP-5b,ADAMTS-4,and MMP-3 decreased significantly in all three groups after treatment and at the 2-week and 6-week follow-ups(P<0.05).At the same three time points,the VAS and WOMAC scores and serum levels of CTX-Ⅰ,TRACP-5b,ADAMTS-4,and MMP-3 were lower in the joint intervention group than in the knee-balancing and heat-sensitive moxibustion groups(P<0.001).Conclusion Either used alone or combined,the knee-balancing manipulation and heat-sensitive moxibustion therapy can improve the symptoms and down-regulate the serum levels of CTX-Ⅰ,TRACP-5b,ADAMTS-4,and MMP-3 in KOA patients,producing durable efficacy;nevertheless,a more significant efficacy can be achieved by combining the two methods.

Key Points and Solutions to Enhance the Curative Effects of Moxibustion Therapy

Objective： To elucidate the key effects of moxibustion points and quantity of moxibustion used in order to enhance the curative effect of moxibustion therapy. Methods： It analyzed the occurrence rules of acupoint heat-sensitization and its relationship to the moxibustion location and dose, in view of the original definition of acupoints in Nei Jing （Internal Canon） and the acupoint heat-sensitization in clinical practice. Results： （1） The original definition of acupoint is the reflecting area of a disease on surface of the body, which is individualized, motive and sensitive; （2） The location in which heat-sensitization is generated relating to a heat-sensitive acupoint, which therefore depicts the best choice for point selection and also the most accurate area to give moxibustion; （3） The heat-sensitization time can be taken as a clinical index to quantify the moxibustion dose, in order to apply sufficient moxibustion for each individual. Conclusion： The key points for enhancing the curative effect of moxibustion therapy are to identify heat-sensitive points and a scientific moxibustion dose.

Role of transient receptor potential vanilloid subetype 1 in the increase of thermal pain threshold by moxibustion

OBTECTIVE:To explore the role of transient receptor potential vaniiloid subetype 1(TRPV1) in the increase of the thermal pain threshold by moxibustion.METHODS:Forty Kunming mice(20 ± 2) g were randomized into control group,capsaicin group,capsazepine group,moxibustion group and moxibustion + capsazepine(MC) group with 8 mice in each,and 16 C57BL/6 wild-type mice(18 ± 2) g were randomized into wild-type(WT) control group and WT moxibustion group with 8 mice in each,and 14 TRPV1 knockout mice(18 ± 2) g were randomized into knockout(KO) control group and KO moxibustion group with 7 in each.Each mouse in the capsaicin group was subcutaneously injected with the amount of 0.1 mL/10 g into L5 and L6 spinal cords;each mouse in the capsazepine group was intraperitoneally injected with the amount of0.1 mL/10 g.Similarly,each mouse in the moxibustion group was given a suspended moxibustion with specially-made moxa-stick for 20 min on L5 and L6 spinal cords.Each mouse in MC group was intraperitoneally injected with the amount of 0.1 mL/10 g first,then after 15 min was given a suspended moxibustion for 20 min on L5 and L6 spinal cords.Each mouse in WT moxibustion group and KO moxibustion group was given a suspended moxibustion with specially-made moxa-stick for 20 min on L5 and L6 spinal cords.The control group,WT control group and KO control group were of no treatment in any way.After all treatments were completed,the digital-display measurement instrument for thermal pain was used to measure the threshold of thermal pain in each group respectively.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the thresholds of thermal pain in the moxibustion group and MC group were significantly increased(P <0.01);no significant changes in the thresholds in the capsaicin group and the capsazepine group(P > 0.05);compared with moxibustion group,he threshold of thermal in MC group was obviously decreased(P < 0.01).Compared with WT control group,the threshold of thermal pain in WT moxibustion group was significantly increased(P <0.01);compared with KO control group,no changes in the threshold in KO moxibustion group(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION:TRPV1 participated in the process of increasing the threshold of thermal pain by stimulating L5 and L6 of mice spinal cord with burning mosa-stick.