ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effects of sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)on the writhing reaction and score,the temperature and blood flow perfusion of moxibustion point area and uterus,the serum levels of arginine vasopressin(AVP),prostaglandin(PG)F2α,and thromboxane(TX)B2 in rats with primary dysmenorrhea(PD)due to cold-dampness stagnation,and to explore the possible mechanism of sparrow-pecking moxibustion in treating PD.Methods:Thirty-two healthy non-pregnant female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,an ibuprofen group,and a sparrow-pecking moxibustion group,with 8 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,the other three groups were subjected to modeling with cold water bath combined with estradiol benzoate and oxytocin injection.Rats in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group were treated with sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)on the 8th day of modeling,30 min/time,once a day for 3 d;those in the ibuprofen group were treated with 0.8 mL ibuprofen solution(a specification of 125 mg in 10 mL)on the 8th day of modeling,once a day for 3 d;those in the normal group and the model group were given 0.8 mL normal saline,once a day for 3 d.On the 11th day,rats in each group were intraperitoneally injected with oxytocin(2 U/rat),and the writhing incubation period and writhing score in 20 min were observed;the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus in vivo were detected;the serum levels of AVP,PGF2α,and TXB2 were determined.Results:The writhing incubation period was significantly longer(P<0.01)and the writhing score was significantly lower(P<0.01)in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group and the ibuprofen group than in the model group;compared with the ibuprofen group,the writhing incubation period was prolonged(P<0.01)and the writhing score was decreased(P<0.01)in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group;compared with the normal group,the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus were significantly decreased,while the serum PGF2α,AVP,and TXB2 levels were significantly increased(P<0.01)in the model group;compared with the model group,the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus were significantly increased,and the serum levels of PGF2α,AVP,and TXB2 were significantly decreased in the ibuprofen group and the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01);compared with the ibuprofen group,the temperature and the blood perfusion of Shenque(CV8),Guanyuan(CV4),and uterus were significantly increased(P<0.05),the serum AVP and TXB2 levels were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the serum PGF2α level had no statistical difference in the sparrow-pecking moxibustion group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Sparrow-pecking moxibustion had a remarkable analgesic effect on the rats with PD due to cold-dampness stagnation,and the mechanism may be related to the increased temperature and blood perfusion of the moxibustion point area and uterus,as well as the decreased serum PGF2α,AVP,and TXB2 levels.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the temperature field distribution and variation rules during treatment with mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion of TCM.@*METHODS@#Six healthy subjects were selected. Mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion were exerted at Zusanli (ST 36) respectively, for 25 min. Using infrared thermal imaging instrument, the temperature field distribution was measured during moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The simulated thermometer was adopted to measure the temperature field distribution during moxibustion at the imitated cortex. At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the temperature field distribution generated by moxibustion was observed at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36) separately. The temperature values were collected at the sites 0.7, 2.1 and 3.5 cm far from the center of the moxibustion-exerted places successively, and then the characteristics of temperature field distribution and variation rules were compared between different moxibustion methods at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36).@*RESULTS@#At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), the temperature field distribution focused on the center of moxibustion-exerted site and the temperature was reduced to all directions and illustrated as a curved surface graph, whereas, the temperature field distribution at the imitated cortex was consistent with that at Zusanli (ST 36). With mild moxibustion, the temperature field was distributed uniformly along the longitudinal temperature gradient; whereas, with sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the longitudinal temperature of the temperature field was greatly different, in which, the maximum temperature and the average temperature were higher than those with mild moxibustion respectively and the first time up to the peak value of sparrow-pecking moxibustion was shorter than that with mild moxibustion. The thermal transfer was presented at the non-moxibustion exerted areas during the moxibustion experiment at Zusanli (ST 36).@*CONCLUSION@#A distance feature is presented in the temperature field measured by simulated thermometer and generated under suspension moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The warm stimulation effect of sparrow-pecking moxibustion is much more obvious at the moxibustion-exerted center as compared with mild moxibustion and the area of warm stimulation generated by sparrow-pecking moxibustion is more concentrated as compared with mild moxibustion. The radiation energy produced by suspension moxibustion is scattered and attenuated in skin tissue, resulting in a certain temperature gradient in the temperature field. The warm stimulation generated at skin surface by moxibustion has a warming-dredging effect.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Acupuncture Points , Moxibustion , Sparrows , Temperature , TorsoABSTRACT
Traditional moxibustion treatment mainly relies on doctors using specific techniques to stimulate the patient's acupoints with ignited moxa sticks. In view of the poor reproducibility, and different methods of different doctors, difficult to carry out quantitative and qualitative research work in clinical research, a moxibustion mechanical arm was designed. The hardware modules of the mechanical arm are composed of power, micro controller STM32, position servos, moxibustion strip thruster, human-computer interaction panel and sensors; the software parts are composed of main control program and interrupt service program. The use of this moxibustion mechanical arm will enhance the system's multi-task adaptability and could perform a variety of moxibustion methods including circling moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion. The data collected in real time will be transmitted to PC through bluetooth, displayed on OLED, and the system operation modes could be switched by button. Clinical trials showed that moxibustion mechanical arm had the same treatment effects with traditional moxibustion. Meanwhile, its convenience of ope-ration, repeatability of treatment, doctors and patients's treatment experience are all better than those of traditional moxibustion.