A case of atopic dermatitis with improved symptoms by moxibustion treatment to the affected area / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective]This report is a case where Chinetsu moxibustion treatment (feeling heat but non-scarring moxibustion) improved atopic dermatitis symptoms;despite the internal application of antihistamines and external application of topical steroids. Prolonged damp erythema and scars were caused by scratching during sleep.<BR>[Method]The patient received Chinetsu moxibustion to the affected area (left popliteal fossa and both hands) once every 2 weeks over an 11 month period, totaling 25 treatment sessions. <BR>[Results]The scars by scratching during sleep were reduced from the day after the first moxibustion. After one month of treatment, the symptom level of the patient's left popliteal fossa changed from "moderate"to "slight". For her hands, the symptom level improved from "moderate"to "slight"after 9 months. As a result, her doctor halved the amount of internal medicine and switched topical steroids to moisturizer only for external treatment. The patient's skin condition continued to be good after 11 months, so treatments by moxibustion and internal medication were terminated.<BR>[Conclusion]It is suggested that Chinetsu moxibustion treatment may be effective for preventing scratching behavior during sleep, and therefore may complement dermatologic treatment for atopic dermatitis.

What Factors are Important in making Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy Familiar to People? (Results from a Questionnaire Investigation) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective] To investigate the factors affecting the popularity of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy (AMT) using information gathered though questionnaires.<BR>[Methods] At a local health festival organized by the municipal government, we asked people who visited a booth offering acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage therapy to answer questions.<BR>[Results] Almost all individual surveyed were interested in AMT. Half of them had not experienced AMT and they tended to keep a distance from it. All the people who had experienced acupuncture chose “acupuncture” as a future therapy. These people wanted medical insurance to be used more freely for the therapy. They were eager to know more about AMT and its advantages.<BR>[Conclusion] Given these results, we concluded that good experience, useful information, and available medical insurance are necessary to promote the utilization of AMT. This festival was a good chance for many people to get information on AMT. We would like AMT to be familiar to more people.

Identification of Acupuncture Indications and Evidence-based Medicine / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

To identify indications for acupuncture treatment, we examined certain evidence-based medicine (EBM) practices by acupuncture/moxibustion clinicians who are novices in this field and identified problems and solutions from the perspective of an acupuncture/moxibustion clinician.<BR>We collected cases of lumbago, shoulder disorders and strokes from the literature, and critically assessed these reports. We also investigated Cochrane Library's acupuncture/moxibustion reviews and evaluated the quality of domestic studies using randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials (RCT/CCT). Simultaneously, one of the authors evaluated her own clinical reports in light of EBM.<BR>As a result, acupuncture/moxibustion treatments showed promise for treating lumbago and shoulder disorders, but the higher the quality of studies, the lower the effect of treatment after stroke. According to research by the Cochrane Library (as of issue 1, 2003), the effects of acupuncture/moxibustion was measured only for cases of idiopathic headache but those for other disorders were measured more severely. In Japan, RCT started as early as the 1960 s, but the studies were sluggish and high quality studies were not produced until the late 1990 s.<BR>We presented problems of RCT assessment score, the gap between RCT designs and actual clinical scenes, and the difficulty of masking at the bed-side. To contribute to the accumulation of more evidence-based data, it would be desirable for clinicians to acquire EBM methods, consider clinical problems and collaborate positively with investigators in the field.

Present Research on Moxibustion / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

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.