Clinical observation of kidney tonifying and collateral tonifying acupuncture combined with thermosensitive moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and its effect on TRACP and CTX-I

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of kidney-tonifying and colllateral-tonifying acupuncture combined with thermosensitive moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and cold congealing syndrome and the effect on Tartrate-resistant Acid Phosphatase(TRACP)andⅠcollagen C-terminal foreign body peptide(CTX-I).Methods:Totally 90 patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided into three groups:acupuncture group,thermosensitive moxibustion group and routine group with 30 cases in each group.In the conventional group,sodium hyaluronate was injected into the joint cavity and diclofenac sustained release tablets were taken orally.Thermosensitive moxibustion group was given thermosensitive moxibustion on the basis of conventional treatment.Acupuncture and moxibustion group in the heat sensitive moxibustion group treatment was given kidney tonifying acupuncture.VAS score,JKOM score and Ly-Sholm knee score were observed before and after treatment and followed up for 2 weeks.The levels of TRACP and CTX-I in serum before and after treatment.Results:Before treatment,there were statistically significant differences in VAS score,JKOM score and Ly-Sholm knee score among all groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the VAS score and JKOM score decreased,and the decrease degree was the greatest in the acupuncture group(P<0.05).Ly-Sholm knee score increased,and the change degree was the greatest in acupuncture group(P<0.05).Before treatment,the levels of TRACP and CTX-I in serum of all groups were significantly different(P>0.05).After treatment,serum TRACP and CTX-I levels were decreased,and the decrease degree was the greatest in acupuncture group(P<0.05).The total effective rates of the acupuncture group,the thermal sensitive moxibustion group and the conventional group were 96.7%,80%and 66.7%,respectively,and the difference between each group was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Kidney-tonifying and collature-tonifying acupuncture combined with thermosensitive moxibustion can significantly relieve knee pain and other symptoms of knee osteoarthritis in patients and cold congealing syndrome,which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Therapeutic observation of acupuncture plus heat-sensitive moxibustion for chronic pelvic inflammatory disease

Objective：To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture plus heat-sensitive moxibustion in treating chronic pelvic inflammatory disease （CPID）, for selecting an effective acupuncture-moxibustion method in treating chronic pelvic inflammation. Methods：Eighty CPID subjects were enrolled and divided into two groups by randomized single-blind method, 40 in each group. The observation group was intervened by acupuncture plus heat-sensitive moxibustion, while the control group was by acupuncture plus box-moxibustion, once every other day, 10 sessions as a treatment course, but the period time was skipped. The therapeutic efficacy was observed after 3 treatment courses. Results：The recovery rate was 45.0% and the total effective rate was 95.0% in the observation group, versus 20.0% and 80.0% in the control roup. There were significant differences in comparing the recovery rate and the total effective rate between the two groups （P〈0.05）. Conclusion：Acupuncture plus heat-sensitive moxibustion can produce a higher therapeutic efficacy in treating CPID than acupuncture plus box-moxibustion, and this is an easy-to-operate and safe method without adverse effect.

Observation on the efficacy of acupoint massage plus moxibustion for refractory insomnia

Objective：To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint massage plus moxibustion in treating refractory insomnia. 〈br〉 Methods：Sixty patients with refractory insomnia were randomized into two groups, 30 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint massage on the face and head plus moxibustion at Yongquan （KI 1）;the control group was intervened only by the same acupoint massage. For both groups, the treatment was given once a day, and the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after 4-week treatment. 〈br〉 Results：The total effective rate was 93.3%in the treatment group versus 80.0%in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. 〈br〉 Conclusion：Acupoint massage plus moxibustion can produce a better efficacy than acupoint massage alone in treating refractory insomnia.

Effect comparason of thermosensitive moxibustion and estazolam on anxiety and depression in the patients of insomnia differentiated as liver qi stagnation

Objective： To observe the effect of thermosensitive moxibustion on anxiety and depression in the patients of insomnia differentiated as liver qi stagnation.Methods： From January 2015 to January 2017, 60 patients of insomnia differentiated as liver qi stagnation were collected in Shijiazhuang Municipal Chinese Medicine Hospital. According to the random number table, the patients were randomized into a moxibustion group（30 cases） and an estazolam group（30 cases）. In the moxibustion group, the thermosensitive moxibustion was adopted alternatively to the bilateral yuan-source points of the liver and gallbladder meridians. In the estazolam group, estazolam, 1 mg was prescribed for oral administration before sleep every day. After 15-day treatments, the sleep quality, the severity of anxiety and depression and the therapeutic effects were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.Results： Before treatment, the differences were not significant in the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index（PSQI）, the self-rating anxiety scale（SAS） and the self-rating depression scale（SDS） between the two groups（all P〉0.05）. After treatment, the scores of PSQJ, SAS and SDS were all reduced remarkably as compared with those before treatment in the two groups（all P〈0.05）. PSQI score was（6.72 ±2.311）points in the moxibustion group and was（5.37 ±2.621） points in the estazolam group. SAS score was（31.76 ± 6.511） points in the moxibustion group and was（39.62 ± 4.371） points in the estazolam group.SDS score was（35.98 ±5.161） points in the moxibustion group and was（46.38 ±4.971） points in the estazolam group. After treatment, the scores of PSQI, SAS and SDS in the moxibustion group were reduced more remarkably as compared with the estazolam group, indicating the significant differences（all P 〈0.05）. After treatment, the scores of sleep efficacy and TCM symptoms were（72.65 ± 14.36） points and（69.36 ±4.28） points respectively in the moxibustion group, better than the estazolam group, indicating the significant differences（all P〈0.05）.Conclusion： The thermosensitive moxibustion at the yuan-source points of the liver and gallbladder meridians significantly improves the sleep quality, relieves the symptoms of anxiety and depression and enhances the therapeutic effects in the patients of insomnia differentiated as liver qi stagnation. Hence,this therapy deserves to be recommended in clinical practice.

Research progress on factors influencing therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion

As a crucial component of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy, moxibustion has been extensively propagated and used with its significant efficacy, simple operation, inconspicuous adverse effects and less sufferings. There are a variety of factors that influence the therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion. The influencing factors, including moxibustion dose （moxibustion duration, distance between moxa and skin, size and number of moxa cone）, selection of points, moxibustion sensations, and the type of moxibustion were analyzed and summarized, to provide references for approaching the maximum efficacy of moxibustion in clinic.

Therapeutic observation on herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion for dysmenorrhea due to deficiency cold

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion for dysmenorrhea due to deficiency cold.Methods:A total of 70 patients with dysmenorrhea who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into a mild moxibustion group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group by the random number table,with 35 cases in each group.Shenque(CV 8),Zhongji(CV 3)and bilateral Zigong(EX-CA 1)were selected for both groups.The treatment continued for 3 menstrual cycles.The visual analog scale(VAS)and COX menstrual symptom scale(CMSS)were scored in both groups before treatment,after treatment and at the end of the 3rd menstrual cycle after treatment.The clinical efficacy was evaluated at the end of the 3rd menstrual cycle after treatment.Results:After treatment,the clinical efficacy of the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group had the tendency to be superior to that of the mild moxibustion group,while there was no statistically significant difference in the overall efficacy between the two groups(P>0.05).The VAS and CMSS scores after treatment and at the follow-up were significantly lower than those before treatment in both groups(all P<0.05).At the follow-up,the VAS scores in both groups had no significant intra-group differences from those after treatment(both P>0.05).The CMSS scores in both groups were significantly lower than those after treatment(both P<0.05).The VAS scores at the follow-up of both groups had no statistical differences from those after treatment(both P>0.05).After treatment,the CMSS score in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group was significantly lower than that in the mild moxibustion group(P<0.05).At the follow-up,there were no statistical differences in the CMSS score between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:The herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion has the same therapeutic efficacy for dysmenorrhea as the mild moxibustion;the two moxibustion methods can significantly improve the concomitant symptoms of dysmenorrhea,and the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion is little better.

Clinical efficacy comparison of moxibustion with different doses for knee osteoarthritis

Objective:To compare the efficacy of moxibustion with different doses for knee osteoarthritis(KOA),and explore the correlation between moxibustion dose and clinical efficacy.Methods:Sixty-eight patients with KOA who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a 20-minute moxibustion group and a 40-minute moxibustion group by the random number table method,with 34 cases in each group.Dubi(ST 35),Neixiyan(EX-LE 4)and Heding(EX-LE 2)were used for moxibustion in the two groups.Each treatment lasted 20 min or 40 min for each point in the 20-minute moxibustion group and 40-minute moxibustion group,separately;the treatment was given 3 times a week and lasted for 4 weeks.The visual analog scale(VAS),Western Ontario and McMaster University osteoarthritis index(WOMAC)and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptom scores were evaluated before and after treatment to compare the efficacy between different moxibustion doses for KOA.Results:After treatment,the total effective rate was 87.5%in the 40-minute moxibustion group,versus 70.0%in the 20-minute moxibustion group,and the difference in the total effective rate between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the VAS scores,the total WOMAC scores and the component scores of pain,stiffness and dysfunction,and the TCM symptom scores in both groups all changed significantly when compared with those before treatment(all P<0.05).After treatment,the between-group differences in the VAS score,the total WOMAC score and the component scores of pain and dysfunction,and the TCM symptom score were statistically significant(all P<0.05),while the difference in the stiffness score in WOMAC showed no statistical significance(P>0.05).Conclusion:Either 20-minute moxibustion or 40-minute moxibustion can relieve pain,improve stiffness,dysfunction,and TCM symptoms for KOA;and 40-minute moxibustion is better in relieving pain,improving dysfunction and TCM symptoms.

Clinical study on tube moxibustion plus point-toward-point needling method in treating refractory facial paralysis

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of tube moxibustion plus point-toward-point needling method for refractory facial paralysis.Methods A total of 100 patients with refractory facial paralysis who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into an observation group and a control group,with 50 cases in each group.Both groups were treated with acupuncture by point-toward-point needling method,mainly in the affected eye,cheek and mouth areas.The observation group was given additional tube moxibustion after receiving the point-toward-point needling method,which inserted a tube moxibustion device into the external acoustic meatus 1 cm on the affected side for 20 min.Both groups were treated once a day,6 times a week,for 4 consecutive weeks.The House-Brackmann scale was scored before and after treatment,and the facial nerve electromyogram data were collected.Results The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.6%,which was higher than 64.6%of the control group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The proportion of new-onset facial paralysis complications(facial synkinesis,facial spasm,facial paralysis perversion,and crocodile tears)in the observation group was 6.4%,which was lower than 35.4%in the control group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).In the observation group,the numbers of cases after treatment with the ratio of action potential amplitude between the affected side and the healthy side increased by 10%–30%and over 30%were more than those in the control group.And the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Tube moxibustion plus point-toward-point needling method has a better effect in improving symptoms of refractory facial paralysis,decreasing the incidence of sequelae,and increasing clinical efficacy than the point-toward-point needling method alone.

Combining acupuncture and copper-tube moxibustion for 39 cases of recurrent peripheral facial paralysis

To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture combined with copper-tube moxibustion on peripheral facial paralysis. Methods： A total of 39 recurrent Bell＇s palsy patients were treated with acupuncture plus self-made copper-tube moxibustion, once a day. Ten days made up a course of treatment. The patients were treated for 4 courses of treatment. There was a 3-day interval between two courses. The therapeutic efficacies were statistically analyzed after 4 courses of treatment. Results： Of the 39 cases, 18 cases obtained recovery, 15 cases got improvement and 6 cases failed. The total effective rate was 84.6%. Conclusion： Acupuncture combined with copper-tube moxibustion is effective for recurrent peripheral facial paralysis.

Clinical observation of acupuncture and moxibustion for functional dyspepsia due to Yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion for functional dyspepsia(FD)due to Yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach.Methods A total of 90 patients meeting the inclusion criteria of FD due to Yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach were randomized into an acupuncture-moxibustion group,an electroacupuncture(EA)group,and a mosapride group by the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The mosapride group was treated with mosapride citrate dispersible tablets.The EA group was treated with EA treatment.The acupuncture-moxibustion group was treated with additional moxibustion therapy based on the treatment in the EA group.All three groups took 10 d as one treatment course and 2 courses in total,with a 2-day interval between two courses.The traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptoms score,functional digestive disorder quality of life questionnaire(FDDQL)score,oral-colon transit time(OCTT),and serum glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1)level was compared before and after treatment among the three groups.And the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results The total effective rate in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was 96.7%,which was higher than 86.7%in the EA group and 73.3%in the mosapride group,and the total effective rate in the EA group was higher than that in the mosapride group;the inter-group differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the TCM symptom score in the three groups was lower than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the FDDQL score was higher than that before treatment(P<0.05).The change after treatment in the TCM symptom score in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was more significant than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was more significant than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The change after treatment in the FDDQL score in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was greater than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was larger than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the OCTT in all three groups was lower than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the serum GLP-1 level was higher than that before treatment(P<0.05);the change after treatment in the OCTT in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was more significant than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was more significant than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).The change after treatment in the serum GLP-1 level in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the EA group was greater than that in the mosapride group,and the change in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was larger than that in the EA group;the inter-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms in patients with FD and enhance their quality of life,producing better effects than EA or mosapride alone.Shortening gastrointestinal movement time and increasing gastrointestinal hormone levels may be its mechanism.