ABSTRACT
The scientific basis of moxibustion using moxa was investigated, focusing on the characteristics and thermal stimulation properties of moxa, its biochemical characteristics and actions, and morphological changes in skin tissue treated with moxibustion. The presentations by and viewpoints of the symposists are outlined below:<BR>1) Characteristics and thermal stimulation properties of moxa:The thermal stimulation properties of Artemisia princes Pamp., moxa, materials other than Artemisia princes Pamp., and materials similar to moxa were presented. Re-investigation of the results of common views of Artemisia princes Pamp. and moxa by experiments and a survey were also presented. <BR>2) Biochemical characteristics and actions of moxa:Chemical substances contained in Artemisia princes Pamp. and moxa, and diverse physiological actions of moxa, such as an anti-oxidative stress action, signal transduction, activation of energy metabolism, and anti-inflammatory action, were presented with viewpoints. In addition, biochemical actions were reviewed based on the extraction of new chemical components. <BR>3) Morphological changes in skin tissue treated with moxibustion:Moxibustion-induced morphological changes in the epidermis, connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerve tissue were presented. Regarding skin tissue regeneration, viewpoints were presented, emphasizing that actions of corneocytes and fibroblasts are particularly important, in addition to revascularization, nerve fibers are not regenerated unless the skin tissue is repaired to a certain degree.
ABSTRACT
There have been not enough information about the biological effects of moxibustion. The symposiums have been opened on the meetings of Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Many significant results of moxibustion have been discussed on these symposiums. The symposium, “Present Research on Moxibustion”, was opened on the 52nd meeting of Japan Society of acupuncture and Moxibustion in 2003. The contents on this symposium were following.<BR>The outline of fundamental research on moxibustion was presented by Dr. Aizawa. From his report, the various researchers have tried to elucidate the mechanism of moxibustion. These have been many presentations of moxibustion at the meeting of The Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.<BR>The histological investigation on treated area was presented by Dr. Menjo. From her report, the increase of cutaneous change was observed from the treated area after moxibustion. This result was significant on the decision of moxibustion-stimulation.<BR>The immunological investigation on the effects of moxibustion was presented by Dr. Tohya. From his report, cytokines as IL-12 and IFN-γ was expressed by moxibustion. These results demonstrated that such effects are dependent on the chemical substances in moxa.<BR>The effect of Onkyu was presented by Dr. Nakanishi. From his report, the transportation by Onkyu-stimulation is different from that by acupuncture-stimulation. His results demonstrated that chemical mediator by Onkyu-stimulation acts to the nervous system.<BR>These presented results supposed the significant information and to contribute the development of moxibustion-medicine.
ABSTRACT
It has been suggested that various neurological diseases (particularly those accompanying aging, the cranial nerves, etc.) involve oxidative stress. Some of these diseases have been successfully controlled with traditional herbal medicine. In the present study, Ougi-keishi-gomotsu-to, reported to be effective against subacute myelo-opticoneuropathy (SMON), showed an inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation of homogenate by hydroxy radical, a type of active oxygen derived from the interaction of Fe<sup>3+</sup> and 8-hydroxyquinoline. 8-hydroxyquinoline is a homologue of chinoform, which is causally related to the pathogenic process of SMON. It has also been indicated that Ougi-keishi-gomotsu-to has a hydroxy radical scavenger with radical-quenching effects. It is, therefore concluded that Ougi-keishi-gomotsu-to has an inhibitory effect on oxidative stress.
ABSTRACT
A study was made of the suitability of acupuncture for neuropathies. The present case of polyneuropathy showed decreased vibratory sense as well as other disturbed sensory functions which were not improved by medication. The Kampo diagnosis of this case was determined to be deficient qi and blood, and deficient qi with stagnated blood. The treatment indicated by this diagnosis was harmonizing the qi and blood, and unblocking the meridians. Such disorders with other complaints were improved by acupuncture and medication.<br>The case study presented here indicated how acupuncture could be used for certain neuropathies.
ABSTRACT
The levels of stress-related hormones in the blood were measured before and after doing Qi Gong health-maintenance exercises, and a control group of walkers with a similar level of movement selected for the basis of a comparative study. The adrenaline, noradrenaline and growth hormone responses of the Qi Gong group were compared with the pre-exercise values. Although no significant difference was observed immediately after exercise, there was a significant drop in all values 30 minutes after exercising. Similar changes in the blood cortisol were noted in the Qi Gong group and walker group. Compared with the pre-exercise value, both group exhibited significant reduction in blood cortisol both immediately following exercise and 30 minutes after exercise, with the lowest value occurring 30 minutes after exercise. In contrast to the increase in stress-related hormones typical after light exercise that was seen in the walker group, the significant reduction response seen in the stress-related hormones of the Qi Gong group with the similar amount of movement was seen as unusual. This suggested that Qi Gong may be a positive means of stress-reduction and a useful health-maintenance method in today's stressful society.
ABSTRACT
The examinations of essential oils in highest-, high-, and regular- grade commercial moxa were carried out by gas-liqiud chromatography. These results showed that highest grade-moxa contains lower alkanes but high and regular moxa contain higher alkanes in high and regular moxa.<br>On the quality control of moxa, it is necessary to examine how components contain in moxa.
ABSTRACT
In previous report, we showed that moxa inhibit generation of superoxide as one of active oxygen species.<br>In present study, we investigated on radical scavenging effects of various moxas with DPPH-method.<br>These results showed that various moxas have radical scavenging effects and the difference of radical scavenging activities. The difference of activities should be due to the difference of grade of moxas.
ABSTRACT
In the previous paper, we reported that the indirect moxibustions (ginger- or garlic-moxibustions) kept high-temperature rather than those of the diathermic moxibustions. However, the effects of the indirect moxibustions include not only thermal stimulations but also medicinal actions of the materials. In this study, we found the effects of radical scavenger in ginger and garlic with ESR spin trapping technique. This suggested that ginger- or garlic-moxibustions were available to treatment of disease caused by the radicals.
ABSTRACT
In previous report, we investigated temperature-changes <i>in vivo</i> with diathermic moxibustions (scarring moxibustions), and showed that the temperature in the subcutaneous layer rised over 50°C. In present study, it was recognized that indirect moxibustions (ginger or garlic moxibustions) kept longer high-temperature than those of diathermic moxibustions. Therefore, it is possible that indirect moxibustions, although it seemed to be weakly stimulation, have stronger stimulation than diathermic moxibustions. In addition, the temperature-changes <i>in vivo</i> with indirect moxibustion seemed to be influenced by water contents of materials for indirect moxibustion and organism skin.
ABSTRACT
It was suggested that the effects of applying acupuncture at Kyoku-sen (Chuchuan) mimicked point of human to reduce footpad edema on the serotonin-dosed leg, which has been induced by dosing of serotonin, were due to the activation of superoxide dismutase in subcutaneous tissues of the point at Kyoku-sen mimicked point of human and footpad edema area on the serotonin-dosed leg. These data indicate that the antiinflammatory effect of acupuncture has a superoxide dismutase-like action.
ABSTRACT
Indirect moxibustion has been found to have the effects of thermal stimulation and pharmacological effects as we analyzed the intercalated substance with thin layer chromatography, 6-gingeol from zingiberis Rhizoma and allicin from Allis Bulbus were detected.<br>It is suggested that pharmacological effects of intercalated substance were significant in indirect moxibustion.
ABSTRACT
It is necessary to research constituents of moxa on the studies of moxibution.<br>As we analyged the essential oil in moxa with gas liquid chromatography, n-nonacosane and n-hentriacontane were detected. Several compound (ex.: tricosanol, hentricontane, arachinakohol, thujone) have been already detected in moxa. But n-nonacosane and n-hentriacontane are newly detected constituents in moxa.
ABSTRACT
Clinically, it has been recognized that moxibustion with artemisia stimulates the internal parts of the body without a burn on the skin. Recently, Matsuyama et al. reported that the maximun temperature of moxibustion varied with every change of size, mass, hardness, quality, and humidity of moxa. The purpose of this study was to investigate experimentally the temperature-changes <i>in vivo</i> with moxibustion by using laboratory animals.<br>Male mice of the C57BL/6CrSlc strain (30 weeks old) and chromel-alumel thermocouples (0.32mm diam. and 0.5Ω electric resistance) were used. Following autoclave sterilization, the chromel-alumel thermocouples were surgically set in the subcutaneous and the muscle layers of the mice. Three weeks later, the temperature-changes in the mice with 5mg of <i>Ibuki-moxa</i> were registered by a calibrated recorder.<br>As illustrated in Fig. 2, maximum temperature diminished in the following order; on the skin (A), in the subcutaneous layer (B), and in the muscle layer (C). And the time occupied on the temperature restoration in the body became longer than that on the skin. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a series of three moxa-cauterizations induced the maximum temperatures to diminish on the skin (A), and to augment in the subcutaneous (B) and muscle layer (C). The former is caused by the barriers of previous moxa tar, sap, and ash to the heat conduction, while the latter is due to the accumulation of prior moxibustion heat. These results indicate that a series of three moxibustions enhances the stimulation not to the shallow parts but to the deep parts of the body. However, it should be made to clarify whether this conclusion holds good for clinical cases.
ABSTRACT
The moxas made in Japan (moxa for onkyu or tenkyu) were assayed by the test for crude drugs in the 11th Pharmacopoea of Japan. The many or little foreign matters were found in moxa for onkyu. But moxa for tenkyu did not have them. The weight loss on drying, ash content, dilute ethanol extract content of moxa for onkyu were found to be more than those of moxa for tenkyu. The acid-soluble ash of moxa for onkyu was similar to that of moxa for tenkyu. The essential oil content of moxa for tenkyu was found to be more than that of moxa for onkyu.
ABSTRACT
Moxa of good quality has been said to have little impurities, many fine fibers and rise temperature slowly. The evaluations of these differences were experimental and variable. As the scientific methods for differences were needed from these fact, we tried to examined those with thin layer chromatography and gas liquid chromatography. Those chromatographic patterns were found to have a little differences.
ABSTRACT
The effects of acupuncture on vascular permeability in mice were investigated. The edema of a footpad induced by the administration of serotonin was remarkably reduced by acupuncturing the point at Kyoku-sen (Chu-chuan) mimicked the point of human either on serotonin-administered or non-administered leg for a period of 60, 45, 30, 20, 10, 5 minutes before its administration. Reduction of the edema was most remarkable when the acupuncture was performed on the administered leg for a period of 5 minutes before administration of serotonin.<br>The degree of reduction of edema of a footpad by acupuncturing was enhanced by dexamethasone. Actinomycin D, a potent inhibitor RNA synthesis and known to inhibit the anti-inflammatory action of dexamethasone, demonstrated no inhibitory action on acupuncturing which suggested that the acupuncture is effective by the mechanism other than that of dexamethasone which inhibits the increase vascular permeability by serotonin.
ABSTRACT
The temperatures of skin, corium, connective tissue. muscle and rectum on the full moon, the moonless day and the crescent have circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythms of temperaturs on skin, corium, connective tissue and muscel have same tendency on the full moon and the crescent.<br>The temperatures of corium, connective tissue and muscle on the crescent are higher than that on the full moon at every time.<br>The temperature of corium is lower than that of skin, connective tissue, muscle, rectum at every time on the full moon, the moonless day and the crescent.
ABSTRACT
In recent years the biological rhythms has been concerned. Lately we recognized that there were differences of degrees by the constitutions on the skin-temperature and bodily temperature. On Sympathicotonie and Vagotonie the rhythms-widths of skin-temperature had difference, but their cycles are same. The cycie of armpit-temperature and that of skin-temperature are reverse. Therefore the skin-temperature is importhant about the circadian rhythms.