ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the impact of huolong moxibustion on pain degree in the patients of discogenic low back pain and the effect mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-five patients were randomized into an observation group (33 cases) and a control group (32 cases). In the observation group, huolong moxibustion was applied along the distribution of the Governor Vessel, once a day. In the control group, the routine traction combined with massage therapy was adopted, once a day. In the two groups, the treatment was given 6 times a week, at interval of 1 day. In 3 weeks of treatment, pain score and serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) level were compared with those before treatment in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those before treatment, pain score and TNF-α level were reduced significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.05). The results in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (pain score: 1.95 ± 0.61 vs 2.11 ± 0.61; TNF-α: (1.33 ± 0.30) nmol/L vs (1.55 ± 0.48) nmol/L, (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Huolong moxibustion significantly alleviates pain in the patients of discogenic low back pain and its effect mechanism is possibly relevant with TNF-α reducing.</p>