A comparative metabolomics study between grain-sized moxibustion and suspended moxibustion on rats with gastric ulcers.

Grain-sized moxibustion (GS-Moxi) and suspended moxibustion (S-Moxi) represent the two typical local heat therapies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and have been extensively used in treating gastric ulcers (GU) in China. However, the difference in biological response between the two moxibustion therapies in treating GU remains unclear. Here we investigated the therapeutic effect and potential mechanistic difference underlying the two moxibustion methods. Ethanol-induced GU model was established and was treated with GS-Moxi or S-Moxi at ST36 and ST21 for 5 days separately. And then, gastric histopathological examination, immunohistochemical staining for repair factors (EGFR, VEGF, Ki67), and 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis of plasma and stomach of rats were conducted. We found GS-Moxi and S-Moxi effectively alleviated gastric damage and significantly increased the expression of related repair factors. However, S-Moxi corrected aberrant energy metabolism and lipids metabolism in GU rats but had little effect on neurotransmitter-related metabolism, while GS-Moxi regulated energy metabolism and neurotransmitter-related metabolism in GU rats but had no effect on lipids metabolism. We further proposed that the main target of S-Moxi may be liver and vasculature, whereas GS-Moxi specially targeted the stomach via regulating nervous system. This study strongly verified the outstanding gastroprotective effects of moxibustion and enriched our understanding of the varied biological responses triggered by different moxibustion methods.

Clinical study on the intervention of suspended moxibustion on deep vein thrombosis of lower extremity after intertrochanteric fracture of femur / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To study the clinical application of hanging moxibustion in intervention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of lower extremity after intertrochanteric fracture of femur, in order to provide theoretical basis for the clinical application of suspension moxibustion.Methods:By adopting a controlled clinical trial method, a total of 100 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture who came to Keqiao District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province for orthopaedic surgery from January 2021 to September 2022 were selected by convenient sampling method and randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, 50 cases in each group. The control group was given routine nursing intervention, and the observation group was given the traditional Chinese medicine nursing intervention of hanging moxibustion on the basis of the control group. The changes of coagulation function indexes, hemorheology indexes, hemodynamics, the swelling degree score of the affected limb, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of the affected limb pain in the two groups of patients with intertrochanteric fracture before and 14 days after the intervention, and the incidence of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the two groups after 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, and 14 d of intervention were observed and recorded.Results:After 14 days of intervention, D-dimer, fibrinogen and prothrombin time in the observation group were (380.64 ± 41.78) μg/L, (4.51 ± 0.49) g/L and (10.46 ± 1.04) s, respectively, which were better than those in the control group (464.91 ± 46.81) μg/L, (4.82 ± 0.56) g/L and (12.85 ± 1.12) s with statistical difference ( t=9.50, 2.95, 11.06, all P<0.05). After 14 days of intervention, the whole blood low tangential viscosity, whole blood high tangential viscosity and plasma viscosity in the observation group were (8.34 ± 0.42), (3.72 ± 0.28) and (1.21 ± 0.18) mPa/s, respectively, which were significantly lower than (8.90 ± 0.46), (4.13 ± 0.26) and (1.53 ± 0.22) mPa/s in the control group ( t=6.36, 7.59, 7.96, all P<0.05). After 14 days of intervention, the postoperative blood flow, maximum blood flow velocity and average blood flow velocity in the observation group were (1.89 ± 0.26) L/min, (31.57 ± 3.29) cm/s, (34.41 ± 3.62) cm/s, which were significantly higher than (1.45 ± 0.21) L/min, (24.18 ± 2.85) cm/s, (27.96 ± 3.15) cm/s in the control group ( t=9.31, 12.01, 9.50, all P<0.05). After 14 days of intervention, the total incidence of lower limb DVT in the observation group was 2.00%(1/50) , lower than 24.00%(12/50) in the control group, the difference between the two groups was significant ( χ2=10.70, P<0.05). Conclusions:Suspended moxibustion can significantly improve the coagulation function, hemorheology, hemodynamics, swelling and pain of the affected limb in patients with postoperative intertrochanteric fracture of the femur, and reduce the occurrence of DVT in the lower extremity. It is recommended to be widely used in clinical practice.

[Consideration on development of the national standard: Pure Moxa Stick].

The paper gives a consideration on the development of the national standard, Pure Moxa Stick. It is proposed that the principle and requirements for the development of product standard should be adhered to, while focusing on the applicability and safety of pure moxa stick. In terms of quality, the specific requirements should be developed on the ratio of moxa floss, wrapping paper and adhesives. Regarding the specifications, either the market demands or the resource waste prevention should be considered. In safety, the combustion temperature and moxa smoke control are the key issues.

Consideration on development of the national standard: Pure Moxa Stick / 中国针灸

The paper gives a consideration on the development of the national standard, Pure Moxa Stick. It is proposed that the principle and requirements for the development of product standard should be adhered to, while focusing on the applicability and safety of pure moxa stick. In terms of quality, the specific requirements should be developed on the ratio of moxa floss, wrapping paper and adhesives. Regarding the specifications, either the market demands or the resource waste prevention should be considered. In safety, the combustion temperature and moxa smoke control are the key issues.

Clinical study on Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction combined with moxibustion in the treatment of spleen stomach weakness syndrome of chronic atrophic gastritis / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction combined with moxibustion in the treatment of spleen stomach weakness syndrome of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Methods:The 98 CAG patients admitted to the Zhaoqing Gaoyao District People’s Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 who met the selection criteria were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table method, with 49 in each group. The control group received conventional western medicine treatment, and the observation group was treated with Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction combined with moxibustion on the basis of the control group. TCM symptom scores were performed before and after treatment, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA, and the levels of serum motilin (MLT), gastrin-17 (G17) and gastrin (gas) were detected by radioimmunoassay, the safety of medication was observed and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results:The total effective rate was 93.9% (46/49) in the observation group and 71.4% (35/49) in the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=8.611, P=0.043). After treatment, the scores of epigastric burning, fullness in stomach, dull appetite, dry mouth and bitter mouth, shortness of breath and unwillingness to speak, general lassitude, pale tongue, small and weak pulse in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=12.061, 7.331, 6.869, 5.975, 5.208, 10.567, 8.738, 8.631, respectively, all Ps<0.01), and the levels of serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t=8.573,13.423,12.099, respectively, all Ps <0.01). After treatment, the level of serum MLT (154.52 ± 26.25 ng/L vs. 180.26 ± 28.13 ng/L, t=4.488) in the observation group was lower than that of the control group ( P<0.01); the levels of G17 (14.28 ± 1.75 pmol/L vs. 10.28 ± 1.06 pmol/L, t=-7.966) and GAS (24.73 ± 3.42 ng/L vs. 19.02 ± 3.38 ng/L, t=-13.115) in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=-7.966 and -13.115, respectively, all Ps<0.01). During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reactions was 8.16% (4/49) in the observation group and 6.12% (3/49) in the control group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.152, P=0.695). Conclusion:Shaoyao-Bawei Decoction combined with moxibustion can alleviate the clinical symptoms of CAG patients with spleen stomach weakness syndrome, regulate the level of inflammatory cytokines, promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function and improve the clinical curative effect.

Effects of moxibustion on serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in rats with experimental rheumatoid arthritis / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the effects of moxibustion on serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and to explore the effects of moxibustion on inflammatory damaging factors in experimental rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model rats; the relationship between the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on RA and the change in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway was analyzed using Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonists and agonists. Methods:Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group, a moxibustion plus TLR4 agonist group (agonist group) and a moxibustion plus TLR4 antagonist group (antagonist group) according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each group. Except the normal group, rats in the other four groups were subjected to model preparation with the wind, cold and wet environmental factors plus Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Rats in the normal and model groups were not treated; rats in the moxibustion, agonist and antagonist groups started to be treated with the moxibustion (cigarette-type moxa) at bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) from the 4th day after the successful modeling, for 20 min each time with a total of 10 d. Rats in the agonist and the antagonist groups were injected with TLR4 agonist or antagonist [0.1 mg/(kg·bw)] via the tail vein 30 min before moxibustion. The concentrations of serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in each group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:Compared with the normal group, in the model group, the rat's right hind paw swelling was significantly obvious (P<0.01), there was a lot of inflammatory infiltration in the synovial tissues, the surface of the synovial membrane was unsmooth, the synovial membrane was hyperplasia and thicker, and the serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α concentrations increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the paw swelling degrees of the rats in the moxibustion, the agonist and the antagonist groups reduced significantly (allP<0.01); the swelling degree in the antagonist group was milder than that in the agonist group, but the between-group difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05); inflammatory infiltration and synovial membrane hyperplasia in the synovial tissues of the moxibustion group and the antagonist group were all relieved differently; the decrease of synovial layer number in the moxibustion group was more obvious, and there were no obvious improvements in inflammatory infiltration and synovial thickness in the agonist group; the concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the moxibustion group were decreased, and the differences in the IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were statistically significant (allP<0.01); there was no significant between-group difference in the IL-8 concentration (P>0.05); the concentrations of serum IL-8 and TNF-α in the agonist group increased significantly (both P<0.01), while the IL-6 concentration decreased without significant difference (P>0.05); the concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 in the antagonist group decreased but the between-group differences were statistically insignificant (bothP>0.05), and the TNF-α concentration significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the moxibustion group, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α concentrations increased in the agonist group, and the differences in the IL-8 and TNF-α concentrations were statistically significant (both P<0.01); the concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α increased in the antagonist group, and the differences in the IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were statistically significant (bothP<0.01); there was no significant difference in the IL-8 concentration between the groups (P>0.05). The serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the antagonist group were lower than those in the agonist group (allP<0.05). Conclusion:Moxibustion at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) can reduce the joint swelling degree and inflammation in synovial tissue of RA model rats, decrease the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in RA model rats; the decreases of IL-6 and TNF-α are more significant than the decrease of IL-8; TLR4 agonist and antagonist can significantly attenuate the effect of moxibustion in inhibiting releases of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α, so that the change in TLR signaling pathway affects the effect of moxibustion in inhibiting the releases of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α.

Comparison of the anti-apoptotic effects of 15- and 35-minute suspended moxibustion after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Heat-sensitive suspended moxibustion has a neuroprotective effect against focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The duration of heat-sensitive suspended moxibustion (usually from 30 minutes to 1 hour) is longer than traditional suspended moxibustion (usually 15 minutes). However, the effects of 15- and 35-minute suspended moxibustion in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury are poorly understood. In this study, we performed 15- or 35-minute suspended moxibustion at acupoint Dazhui (GV14) in an adult rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Infarct volume was evaluated with the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride assay. Histopathological changes and neuronal apoptosis at the injury site were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Caspase-9 and caspase-3 expression at the injury site was detected using immunofluorescent staining. Bax and Bcl-2 expression at the injury site was assessed using western blot assay. In the 35-minute moxibustion group, infarct volume was decreased, neuronal apoptosis was reduced, caspase-9, caspase-3 and Bax expression was lower, and Bcl-2 expression was increased, compared with the 15-minute moxibustion group. Our findings show that 35-minute moxibustion has a greater anti-apoptotic effect than 15-minute moxibustion after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Observations on the Efficacy of Heat-sensitive Point Medicinal Moxibustion plus Percutaneous Administration of Tetrandrine in Treating Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive point medicinal moxibustion plus percutaneous administration of tetrandrine in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Methods One hundred and twenty patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were randomized to treatment and control groups, 60 cases each. The treatment group received heat-sensitive point medicinal moxibustion plus percutaneous administration of tetrandrine and the control group, heat-sensitive point medicinal moxibustion alone. The VAS score and the JOA Score for Back Pain score were recorded in the two groups before and after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the JOA Score for Back Pain score and the VAS score in the two groups (P<0.01). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the JOA Score for Back Pain score and the VAS score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.01). The excellent and good rate was 80.0％ in the treatment group and 55.0％ in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion Heat-sensitive point medicinal moxibustion plus percutaneous administration of tetrandrine is an effective way to treat lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Therapeutic Observation of Moxa Stick Moxibustion for Diabetic Gastroparesis Due to Deficient Cold of Spleen-stomach / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxa stick moxibustion in treating diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) due to deficient cold of spleen-stomach, and to discuss the action mechanism.Method Seventy DGP patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 35 cases each. The treatment group was intervened by moxa stick moxibustion, while the control group was given oral administration of Domperidone tablets, 7 d as a treatment course, totally for 2 courses. The DGP clinical symptoms evaluation scale, gastric emptying time and biochemical indexes (contents of glycosylated hemoglobin and serum motilin) were compared before and after the treatment, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result After the treatment, the DGP clinical symptoms evaluation scales, gastric emptying time, and biochemical indexes were changed significantly in both groups (P<0.05). The DGP clinical symptoms evaluation scales, gastric emptying time, and biochemical indexes in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group after the treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Moxa stick moxibustion can improve the quality of life of DGP patients due to deficient cold of spleen-stomach, which is possibly related to the improvement of the glycosylated hemoglobin, serum motilin and gastric emptying time.

Therapeutic Observation of Heavy-dose Moxibustion at Sha-petechiae for Neck-type Cervical Spondylosis Due to Cold Coagulation and Blood Stagnation / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the efficacy difference between heavy-dose moxibustion at Sha-petechiae and ordinary suspended moxibustion in treating neck-type cervical spondylosis due to cold coagulation and blood stagnation.Method A total of 113 patients with neck-type cervical spondylosis due to cold coagulation and blood stagnation were randomized into a treatment group of 58 cases and a control group of 55 cases.The treatment group was intervened by heavy-dose moxibustion at Sha-petechiae after scraping therapy;the control group was treated with conventional moxibustion therapy.The cervical symptoms and signs were evaluated by using LU's scale scores.The improvement in symptoms and clinical efficacy were observed after the intervention and half a year later.Result The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and LU's scale scores were significantly changed after the intervention and half a year later compared with those before the intervention in both groups (P＜0.01).After the intervention and half a year later,there were significant differences in comparing the VAS and LU's scale scores between the two groups (P＜0.01).The total effective rate and markedly effective rate were respectively 94.8％ and 77.6％ in the treatment group versus 76.4％ and 52.7％ in the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01).Conclusion Heavy-dose moxibustion at Sha-petechiae is an effective approach in treating neck-type cervical spondylosis due to cold coagulation and blood stagnation,and its short-term and long-term efficacies are both superior to those of ordinary moxibustion.

Clinical Observations on Heat-sensitive Point Medicinal Moxibustion for the Treatment of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation / 上海针灸杂志

ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacies of heat-sensitive point suspended moxibustion versus heat-sensitive point medicinal moxibustion in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.MethodSixty patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were randomly allocated to treatmentand control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received heat-sensitive point medicinal moxibustion and the control group, heat-sensitive point suspended moxibustion. The lumbar vertebra JOA score was recorded before and after treatment.ResultThe lumbar vertebra JOA score decreased significantly in both groups of patients after treatment (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the lumbar vertebra JOA score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the total efficacy rate between the two groups (P<0.05).ConclusionThe results show that the lumbar vertebra JOA score decreased in both groups after treatment. The total efficacy rate of heat-sensitive point medicinal moxibustion is superior to that of heat-sensitive point suspended moxibustion in treating lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Therapeutic Observation of Suspended Moxibustion plus Chinese Medication for Icteric Hepatitis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of suspended moxibustion plus Chinese medication in treating icteric hepatitis. Method Ninety-two patients with icteric hepatitis were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 46 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by suspended moxibustion plus oral administration of Chinese medication for supplementing yang, tonifying spleen, expelling dampness, and activating blood circulation;the control group was intervened only by the same Chinese medication. The symptom and sign score, and liver function items including TBil and ALT were observed, and the clinical efficacy was compared. Result The symptom and sign scores were significantly changed in both groups after intervention (P<0.05). After intervention, there was a significant difference in comparing the symptom and sign score between the two groups (P<0.05). The TBil and ALT levels were significantly changed after intervention in both groups (P<0.05). The recovery rate and total effective rate were respectively 87.0%and 95.7%in the treatment group versus 76.1%and 82.6%in the control group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Suspended moxibustion plus Chinese medication is an effective method in treating icteric hepatitis.

Effect Observation on Heat-sensitive Moxibustion for Abdominal Distension Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion on abdominal distension following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. ＜br> Methods: A total of 240 cases were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group according to their admission sequence, 120 in each group. Cases in the observation group were treated with conventional care, glycerol enema and heat sensitive moxibustion, whereas cases in the control group were only treated with conventional care and glycerol enema. Then the passage of gas by anus within 24 h and improvement of abdominal distension were observed in both groups. ＜br> Results: There were statistical differences in the emergence time of bowel sounds and the initial passage of gas by anus between the two groups (bothP＜0.05). The therapeutic effect in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P＜0.05) . ＜br> Conclusion: Heat-sensitive moxibustion has reliable effect for abdominal distension following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Observation on Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture plus Psychological Intervention for Postpartum Depression / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture plus psychological intervention for postpartum depression. Methods: By random number table, 85 patients with postpartum depression were divided into a treatment group and a control group. Forty-three cases in the treatment group were treated by acupuncture plus psychological intervention, once every day, five sessions per week, and rest at weekend. Forty-two cases in the control group were treated by oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride, 20 mg, once per day. The two groups were treated continuously for six weeks. The change of the score in Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was observed and the therapeutic effect was summarized. Results:The total effective rate was 90.7%in the treatment group and 90.5% in the control group. The difference in the total effective rate between two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In the intra-group comparisons of HAMD scores two, four and six weeks after treatment in both groups with those before treatment, the differences were statistically significant (all P0.05). Regarding the adverse events, 5 cases had nausea, 3 cases had dizziness, and 6 cases had poor appetite in the control group; no obvious adverse events happened in the treatment group. Conclusion:Acupuncture plus psychological intervention for postpartum depression is as same as oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride in therapeutic effects, but it does not have adverse reaction.

Efficacy of suspended moxibustion in stroke rats is associated with a change in tail temperature.

Suspended moxibustion-produced heat can transfer from the acupoint to other sites of the body. The suspended moxibustion should be terminated when clinical propagated sensation disappears, because this implies that the quantity of moxibustion is sufficient. We wanted to investigate if this phenomenon also occurs in experimental animals. In the present study, a rat model of stroke was established and treated with suspended moxibustion at Dazhui (DU14) for 60 minutes. Results showed that the increase in tail temperature began at 15 minutes after suspended moxibustion and decreased gradually at 40 minutes. In addition, neurological function was significantly improved in stroke rats with tail temperature increase following suspended moxibustion, and this effect was associated with significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1ß mRNA. However, there was no significant difference between 40- and 60-minute suspended moxibustion. The findings indicate that elevated tail temperature began to decrease at 40 minutes after suspended moxibustion, and further suspended moxibustion was not useful in the recovery of stroke rats.

Analgesic action of suspended moxibustion in rats with chronic visceral hyperalgesia correlates with enkephalins in the spinal cord.

Rats that modeled chronic visceral hyperalgesia received suspended moxibustion at bilateral Tianshu (ST25) and Shangjuxu (ST37) once daily over a period of 7 days. Results show that suspended moxibustion significantly depressed abdominal withdrawal reflex scores and increased enkephalin concentration in the spinal cord. The experimental findings suggest that spinal enkephalins contributed to the analgesic effect of suspended moxibustion in rats with chronic visceral hyperalgesia.

Suspended moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) inhibits prokineticin 1 and prokineticin receptor 1 expression in the spinal cord of rats with chronic visceral hypersensitivity.

Suspended moxibustion can decrease the expression of prokineticin 1 and its receptor in colonic tissue from rats modeling chronic visceral hyperalgesia. This study aimed to verify if rat spinal cord prokineticin 1 and its receptor contribute to the analgesic effect of suspended moxibustion in a rat model of irritable bowel syndrome where rats display chronic visceral hypersensitivity. Results showed that suspended moxibustion at Tianshu (ST25) point significantly decreased visceral sensitivity to colorectal distention in a chronic visceral hyperalgesia rat model; also protein and mRNA expression of prokineticin 1 and prokineticin receptor 1 in the spinal cord of rats was significantly decreased. Experimental findings indicate that prokineticin 1 and prokineticin receptor 1 are involved in the analgesia using suspended moxibustion in rats with chronic visceral hyperalgesia.

Heat-sensitive moxibustion attenuates the inflammation after focal cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion injury.

Heat-sensitive moxibustion has neuroprotective effects against focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, however its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, rat models of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury were treated with suspended moxibustion at acupoint Dazhui (DU14) for 35 minutes. Results showed that suspended moxibustion decreased infarct volume, reduced cortical myeloperoxidase activity, and suppressed serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Our experimental findings indicated that heat-sensitive moxibustion can attenuate inflammation and promote repair after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Suspended moxibustion relieves chronic visceral hyperalgesia and decreases hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone levels.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of suspended moxibustion (SM) on rectal sensory thresholds and to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in SM treatment of chronic visceral hypersensitivity (CVH) in rats. METHODS: SM was administered once daily to 37-d-old CVH rats for 7 d. The two pairs of acupoints (ST25 and ST37, bilateral) were simultaneously treated with SM. Each treatment lasted for 30 min. Rats undergoing treatment with SM were not anesthetized. Untreated CVH rats and normal rats were used as controls. The abdominal withdrawal reflex was determined 30-90 min after the seven treatments. The hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA level was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: We found that SM treatment significantly decreased visceral sensitivity to colorectal distention in this rat model. In treated animals, SM also decreased the relative hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression level to control levels. CONCLUSION: Lower hypothalamic CRH levels may mediate the beneficial effects of SM in this rat irritable bowel syndrome model.