Effect of Auricular Piont Pressing Combined with Thunder-Fire Moxibustion on Abdominal Distension and Constipation After Thoracic Compression Fracture

Objective:To explore the effect of auricular point pressing combined with thunder-fire moxibustion in the treatment of abdominal distension and constipation after thoracic compression fracture.Methods:Totally 100 patients were randomly divided into 4 groups,the observation group 1(n=25)which were treated with conventional nursing combined with auricular piont pressing,observation group 2(n=25)treated with conventional nursing combined with thunder-fire moxibustion,observation group 3(n=25)treated with conventional nursing combined with auricular point pressing and thunder-fire moxibustion,and the control group(n=25)which adopted conventional nursing.First exhaust and defecation time after fracture in 4 groups were observed and compared.Results:The effect of observation group 3 was better than that of observation group 2,observation group 1 and control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:It is obvious that auricular point pressing combined with thunder-fire moxibustion has better result in treating abdominal distension and constipation after thoracic compression fracture.

Evaluating the clinical efficacy of Thunder-Fire moxibustion combined with ovulation monitoring in the treatment of adenomyosis combined with infertility

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of Thunder-Fire moxibustion combined with ovulation monitoring for the treatment of adenomyosis-associated infertility.A series of 120 patients diagnosed with uterine adenomyosis and infertility and cold coagulation blood stasis syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine(with the clinical manifestations of premenstrual or menstrual lower abdomen cold pain,pain reduction with heat application,and cold extremities)were randomized equally to treatment group with Thunder-Fire moxibustion and ovulation monitoring as well as control group with ovulation monitoring only.Treatment continued for six menstrual cycles.The pregnancy rate of the treatment group was significantly increased with the control group(50.0%vs.23.3%,P=0.021).Dysmenorrhea and the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome in the treatment group improved significantly compared with the control group(3.87±2.03 vs.5.70±1.01,P=0.002 and 7.33±4.11 vs.10.52±2.33,P=0.006,respectively),and there was also significant between-group differences in serum cancer antigen 125(55.45±14.65 vs.63.34±11.41,P=0.031).However,the average uterus diameters in the treatment and control groups were not significantly different(67.13±7.59 vs.69.89±5.30,P=0.137).Thunder-Fire moxibustion with ovulation monitoring improved the pregnancy rate of patients diagnosed with adenomyosis-associated infertility.

Progress of improvement of pain and joint function of knee osteoarthritis treated with thunder-fire moxibustion in the last five years

Objective:To summarize the clinical research of improvement of pain and joint function of knee osteoarthritis treated with thunder-fire moxibustion in the last five years,in order to provide more objective and scientific theoretical basis for the clinical use of thunderfire moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.Methods:By using"thunder-fire moxibustion"and"knee osteoarthritis"as keywords,the clinical literature on the treatment of knee osteoarthritis mainly by thunder-fire moxibustion in the past 5 years in PubMed,CNKI,WF and VIP were analyzed.Results:Thunderfire moxibustion and its compound therapy,including internal use of traditional Chinese medicine,external use of traditional Chinese medicine,drug injection,physical therapy,acupuncture,heat sensitive moxibustion,pricking collaterals,acupoint application and ozone,could relieve pain,improve joint function,improve joint activity,improve patients daily life ability and have less adverse reactions.Conclusion:Thunder-fire moxibustion was a safe,non-invasive and effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis.However,further research is necessary due to the non-rigidity of the current clinical trial design.

Twenty cases of globus hystericus treated by bloodletting combined with thunder-fire moxibustion

Objective To observe the clinical effect in treatment of globus hystericus with acupoint bloodletting and thunder-fire moxibust-ion therapy. Methods Twenty patients were subject to bloodletting at Ganshu （肝俞 BL 18） in both sides and to thunder-fire moxibustion at Danzhong （膻中 CV 17） and Zhongwan （中脘 CV 12）. Once a day, twenty treatments were given. Results Sixteen cases were cured and 4 cases effective; cured rate was 80% and effective rate 100%. Conclusion Bloodletting comb for globus hystericus is better ined with thunder-fire moxibustion therapy n clinical efficacy, significantly improving the patients＇ clinical symptoms.

Observation on therapeutic efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion for hypomenorrhea after induced abortion

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of thunder-fire moxibustion for hypomenorrhea after induced abortion.Methods:A total of 74 patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion were randomized into two groups,with 37 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional hormone sequential therapy,and the observation group was treated with thunder-fire moxibustion.The course of treatment was 3 menstrual cycles.The traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptom scores,menstrual volume,endometrial thickness and the sex hormone levels were observed before and after treatment.The clinical efficacy was compared after treatment.Results:The total effective rate in the observation group and the control group was 91.4%and 73.5%,respectively,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the TCM symptom scores in both groups decreased significantly(all P<0.05),and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The menstrual volume,endometrial thickness and each sex hormone level of the patients in both groups were significantly improved after treatment(all P<0.05),and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Thunder-fire moxibustion can significantly improve the clinical symptoms of patients with hypomenorrhea after induced abortion;it can increase menstrual volume and endometrial thickness,and regulate the sex hormone levels,producing a better curative effect than the conventional hormone sequential therapy.

Effect of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion on MMP-3, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 in rats with knee osteoarthritis

Objective： To observe the effect of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion on the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-3 （MMP-3）, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 （TIMP-1） and transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） in cartilage of knee osteoarthritis （KOA） rats, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion in the treatment of KOA. Methods： Thirty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank control group, a model group and an acupuncture-moxibustion group by random digits table, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the model group and the acupuncture-moxibustion group were injected with papain in the right posterior knee joint to prepare the models. The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in rat synovium of each group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELBA） after 2 weeks of treatment. The level of TGF-β1 was determined by Motic B5 Micro-camera system. Results： The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the cartilage of the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank control group （all P〈0.01）; the levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than those in the model group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. The levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were higher than those in the blank control group, and the differences were statistically significant （all P〈0.05）. The level of TGF-β1 in cartilage tissues of the model group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group （P〈0.01）; the level of TGF-β1 in the acupuncture-moxibustion group was higher than that in the model group （P〈0.05）, but it was lower than that in the blank control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus thunder-fire moxibustion can effectively recover the abnormal expressions of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in KOA model rats and somewhat up-regulate TGF-β1, which may be one of its mechanisms of acupuncture plus thunder-fire for KOA.

Electroacupuncture combined with thunder-fire moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis of cold-damp type:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To observe the clinical effect differences of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)with cold-damp type between electroacupuncture(EA)combined with thunder-fire moxibustion and medication.Methods:A total of 72 cases of KOA patients with cold-damp type were randomly divided into a combined treatment group of EA and thunder-fire moxibustion(combined treatment group)and a medication group,36 cases in each group.In the combined treatment group,the acupoints for EA were Dubi(犊鼻ST35),Neixiyan(内膝眼EX-LE4),Zusanli(足三里ST36),Yanglingquan(阳陵泉GB34),Yinlingquan(阴陵泉SP9),Xuehai(血海SP10),Liangqiu(梁丘ST34)and Heding(鹤顶EX-LE2).During the period of EA,the suspending thunder-fire moxibustion was applied to Shenque CV8)and Guanyuan(关元CV4).In the medication group,diclofenac sodium double release intestine-sol capsule and Fugui gutong capsules were prescribed for oral administration.The treatment for 14 days was taken as one course and the consecutive 2 courses of treatment were required in each group.Before and after treatment,as well as in the follow-up visit,the pain score(visual analogue scale,VAS),the knee function score(Western Ontario and McMaster University,WOMAC,the expressions of interleukin 6(IL-6)and transforming growth factorβ1(TGF-β1)in the joint fluid as well as the difference in the clinical therapeutic effect were observed in the two groups separately.Results:(1)The pain score:compared with those before treatment,the VAS scores were all reduced after treatment and in the follow-up in the two groups(all P<0.05).After treatment and in the follow-up,VAS scores in the combined treatment group were lower than those in the medication group(both P<0.05).(2)The knee function score:WOMAC score of each item,i.e.pain,stiffness and function,as well as the total score after treatment and the follow-up were all lower than those before treatment in the patients of the two groups(all P<0.05).The score of each item,i.e.pain and function,as well as the total score in the combined treatment group were all lower than those in the medication group after treatment and the follow-up respectively(all P<0.05).(3)The expressions of IL-6 and TGF-β1:the level of IL-6 in the joint fluid was reduced after treatment as compared with that before treatment in either group and the level of TGF-β1 was increased,indicating the statistical differences(all P<0.05).After treatment,the level of IL-6 in the combined treatment group was lower than that in the medication group and the level of TGF-β1 was higher than that of the medicating group,indicating the statistical significance(both P<0.05).(4)The total effective rate in the combined treatment group was 97.1%,higher than 78.8%in the medication group,indicating the statistical significance(P<0.05).Conclusion:The clinical effect of the combined treatment of electroacupuncture and the thunder-fire moxibustion is remarkable on knee osteoarthritis of cold-damp type.The combined treatment presents a more advantageous at the sustainability of the therapeutic effect as compared with medication.

Acupotomy combined with thunder-fire wonder moxibustion for 165 cases of calcaneodynia

Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of acupotomy combined with thunder-fire wonder moxibustion for calcaneodynia. Methods： Acupotomy combined with thunder-fire wonder moxibustion was applied in 165 cases of calcaneodynia on single foot. Acupotomy was used to the releasing and stripping at the local tender point of the affected heel. Thunder-fire wonder moxibustion was carried out around the incision after the acupotomy. After treatment for once, the patients were asked to visit to hospital again after 1 week to observe the curative effect. If the symptom disappeared, the treatment can be terminated. If not, the treatment for another time was conducted. Treatment should not be performed for more than 3 times. Results： A total of 25 patients were cured after treatment for once, accounting for 15.2%（25/165） of the whole. A total of 105 patients were cured after treatment for 2 times, accounting for 63.6%（105/165） of the whole. A total of 20 patients were cured after treatment for 3 times, accounting for 12.1%（20/165） of the whole. A total of 15 patients were ineffective after treatment for 3 times, accounting for 9.1%（15/165） of the whole. The total cure rate was 90.9%. Conclusion： Acupotomy combined with thunder-fire wonder moxibustion for calcaneodynia has definite effect, which is worthy of clinical popularization and application.

Efficacy observation on degenerative gonitis treated with triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of degenerative gonitis treated with triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion for better promotion and clinical application. Methods Ninety-eight patients with degenerative gonitis were randomly divided into a thunder-fire moxibustion group （group A） and an acupuncture group （group B） according to randon number table, with forty-nine cases in each group. In group A, Neixiyan （内膝眼 EX-LE 4）, Dubi （犊鼻 ST 35）, Yanglingquan （阳陵泉 GB 34）, Xuehai （血海 SP 10）, Liangqiu （梁丘 ST 34）, Zusanli （足三里 ST 36）, Yinlingquan （阳陵泉 SP 9） and Xiyangguan （膝阳关 GB 33） were selected to accept triple and needling thunder-fire moxibustion for 20 min after the needles were retained for 40 min. The patients in group B were only treated with acupuncture. Thunder-fire moxibustion was not applied in the group B. The treatment was given once a day for four weeks. Knee function score and knee stiffness score in both groups were recorded before and after treatment, and the therapeutic effect was assessed. Results After four weeks＇ treatment, the total effective rate of group A was 93.9% （46/49）, which was superior to 71.4% （35/49） in group B （P〈0.05）. Improvement in knee stiffness in group A was superior to that in group B （P〈0.01）. Conclusion Triple needling combined with thunder-fire moxibustion had clinical efficacy on degenerative gonitis, which is a better treatment option with the total efficacy significantly superior to that of acupuncture only.

Clinical Research of Moxibustion Therapy on Gastralgia Due to Deficiency and Cold

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of moxibustion on gastralgia of deficiency cold type. Methods： Sixty patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The 30 patients in the treatment group were treated with Zhao＇s thunder-fire moxibustion while the other 30 patients in the control group were treated with oral medicine. Results： After one course of treatment, the total effective rate of treatment group was notably higher than that of the control group, showing statistical significance （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The total effective rate of thunder-fire moxibustion on gastralgia of deficiency cold type was better than that of the traditional Chinese medicine in relieving epigastralgia.

Comparison of efficacy of treating obese patients with endocrine-metabolic abnormity by electroacupuncture of different types of wave modes

Objective To compare the efficacy of treating obese patients with abnormity of lipids and serum leptin by dilatational wave or continuous wave of electroacupuncture combined with thunder-fire moxibustion in order to provide a clinical basis for selecting wave types of electroacupuncture for different patterns of obesity. Methods Sixty obese patients with abnormal lipids and serum leptin were randomly divided into a dilatational wave group and a continuous wave group via random number table, with 30 cases in each group. They were divided by TCM differentiation into three types： stomachintestine excessive heat, weakness of the spleen-stomach and spleen-kidney yang deficiency, treated by electroacupuncture on Tianshu （天枢 ST 25）, Daheng （大横 SP 15）, Zusanli （足三里ST 36）, Shangjuxu （上巨虚 ST 37）, Fanglong （丰隆 ST 40）, Yinlingquan （阴陵泉 SP 9）, Quchi （曲池 LI 11）, Zhigou （支沟 TE 6） and Hegu （合谷 LI 4） along with thunder-fire moxibustion. The frequency of electro-acupuncture in the dilatational wave group and the continuous wave group was 2 Hz/100 Hz and 2 Hz, respectively. Patients in the two groups were treated once a day, six times a week. The treatment lasted for 4 weeks with 3-month follow-up. Body mass and body fat percentage before and after the treatment, as well as during the follow-up, were compared. The effectiveness rates in the two groups were compared, and the efficacy statistics of patients with different TCM patterns in the dilatational wave group were also analyzed. Lipid levels of the patients in two groups before and after the treatment were measured with an automatic biochemical analyzer, and serum leptin levels were detected with flow cytometry system. Results After the treatment, the patients＇ blood lipids, serum leptin levels, body mass and body fat percentage were effectively reduced in the two groups; three months＇ follow-up witnessed continuous decline of obesity indicators （P〈0.01 or P〈0.05）, and patients in the dilatat-ional wave group improved more significantly than those in continuous wave group （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. The efficacy in the dilatational wave group was superior to that in the continuous wave group （P〈0.01）. The best efficacy could be found among patients with weakness of the spleen and the stomach in the dilatational wave group. Conclusion Efficacy of treating obese patients with abnormity of lipids and serum leptin by electro-acupuncture combined with thunder-fire moxibustion in the dilatational wave group was significantly better than that of the continuous wave group, and efficacy for obese patients with weakness of the spleen and the stomach was superior to that of those with stomach-intestine excessive heat and spleen-kidney yang deficiency.