Effect Of Moxibustion Stimulation Research Articles

The Effect of Moxibustion Stimulation on Local and Distal Skin Temperature in Healthy Subjects.

The aim of this study is to investigate the response of local and distal skin temperature to moxibustion stimulation (MS) and explore the effects of MS on sympathetic nerve activity. The distal skin temperatures of fingertips, as an indicator for sympathetic reflex response, were recorded using infrared camera during resting period (10 min), MS period (10 min), and natural cooling period (15 min), respectively. The MS without ash cleaning (AC) was applied to acupoints Quze (PC3) (Group I) and Lao Gong (PC8) (Group II), respectively. In Group III, the MS with the operation of AC was performed on PC8. The temperature responses of the local stimulation points and corresponding control points were also investigated. At the beginning of MS period, a significant increase of temperature on the stimulation point accompanied by a simultaneous reduction of temperature on fingertips was observed. A marked negative correlation was also obtained between temperature changes in the stimulation point and in the fingertips. At the end of natural cooling period (t = 34 min), the temperature of stimulation point was obviously higher than baseline values. In contrast, the temperatures of fingertips increased and then returned to the baseline levels during the second minute of MS period. In Group III, the temperature of stimulation point increased every time with the operation of AC, accompanied by the temperature decrease of middle fingertip. The findings suggest that moxibustion may trigger the sympathetic nervous system and induce the reduction of microcirculation, accompanied by a reduction of fingertip temperature. In addition, the operation of AC caused repeated cycles of thermal stimulation on the stimulation point, which may repetitively activate cutaneous sympathetic nerve fibres and evoke the temperature reduction of fingertips.

Effect of moxibustion stimulation on repair of injured gastric mucosa after common peroneal nerve transection

To investigate the protective effect of moxibustion in initiating the endogenous protection information on gastric mucosa, and its relationship with the pathway of common peroneal nerve. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a moxibustion model group (group C) and a moxibustion model plus surgery group (group D), 12 in each group. Except for group A, rats in the other groups were treated with dehydrated ethanol and aspirin to prepare gastric mucosal damage model. The rats in group B were not treated with any interventions; rats in group C received moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), twice a day for continuous 3 d. The rats in group D were subjected to preparing the gastric mucosal damage model after the common peroneal nerve transection, followed by moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). After a 3-day intervention, ulcer index (UI) in each group was observed, and the levels of gastric mucosa-related repair cytokines of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were detected. Compared with group A, the pathological changes and UI of group B were worse (P=0.000), but TNF-α in serum and tissue was changed significantly (P=0.000, P=0.002), IL-4 in serum and tissue was improved significantly (P=0.000, P=0.000). Compared with group B, TNF-α and IL-4 in group C and group D were significantly improved (TNF-α: P=0.003, P=0.016; IL-4: P=0.000, P=0.002). Compared with group C, the changes of UI in group B and group D were poor (both P=0.000); the levels of TNF-α and IL-4 in serum were significantly decreased (TNF-α: P=0.000, P=0.025; IL-4: P=0.000, P=0.034); and tissue HSP70 levels were decreased significantly (P=0.000, P=0.033). Zusanli (ST 36) can transmit information through the pathway of common peroneal nerve, regulate the release of gastric mucosal protective factors, and up-regulate the expression of cytothesis-related proteins, so as to achieve the effect in repairing gastric mucosa.

Effect of moxibustion stimulation at Zusanli (ST36) on repair of gastric mucosal injury in rats after damage to the nucleus of solitary tract

Effect of moxibustion stimulation at Zusanli (ST36) on repair of gastric mucosal injury in rats after damage to the nucleus of solitary tract

Effects of Moxibustion Stimulation on the Intensity of Infrared Radiation of Tianshu (ST25) Acupoints in Rats with Ulcerative Colitis.

ST25 is a key acupoint used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis by moxibustion stimulation, but the biophysical mechanism underlying its effects is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the biophysical properties of ST25 acupoint stimulated by moxibustion in a rat model of ulcerative colitis. The infrared radiation intensity of fourteen wavelengths of ST25 showed significant differences between the normal and model control groups. The intensity of infrared radiation of forty wavelengths showed significant differences compared with the corresponding control points in normal rats. The intensity of infrared radiation of twenty-eight wavelengths showed significant differences compared with the corresponding control points in model rats. The intensity of infrared radiation of nine wavelengths in the herb-partition moxibustion group, eighteen wavelengths in the ginger-partition moxibustion group, seventeen wavelengths in the garlic-partition moxibustion group, and fourteen wavelengths in the warming moxibustion group of the left ST25 showed significant differences compared with that of the model control group. For the right-hand-side ST25, these values were 33, 33, 2, and 8 wavelengths, respectively. This indicated that one possible biophysical mechanism of moxibustion on ST25 in ulcerative colitis model rats might involve changes in the intensity of infrared radiation of ST25 at different wavelengths.

Effect of Moxibustion on Dopaminergic and Serotonergic Systems of Rat Nucleus Accumbens

Acupuncture and moxibustion are traditional medical treatments that have come to play important roles in complementary and alternative medicines. Moxibustion also has a long history as a folk remedy in Japan, particularly due to the technical simplicity and selective efficacy on certain types of disease and distress. This study examined the effects of moxibustion focusing on the brain reward system, particularly in the nucleus accumbens. The effects of moxibustion stimulation at various sites and frequencies on monoamine levels of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were examined using high-preformance liquid chromatography of dissected nucleus accumbens tissues. The rats weighing 290-310 g were divided into 3 groups according to the moxibustion point used: hindlimb, lumbar or parietal points. Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups, with stimulation for 10 consecutive days, for 1 day, or sham treatment (control). On each day of stimulation, 5 moxibustion cones with a peak temperature of 200 degrees C were applied consecutively. Stimulation of any point on 1 day only did not change dopamine or serotonin levels, but lumbar stimulation significantly increased the metabolic turnover of dopamine. Conversely, stimulation for 10 consecutive days resulted in significantly decreased serotonin levels for hindlimb and parietal stimulations, and significantly increased 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid/serotonin ratio for hindlimb stimulation. These results suggest that the metabolic turnover of serotonin release may be accentuated by moxibustion in a reward-related brain area. Moxibustion over consecutive days, especially that to peripheral regions, appears most efficient to influence on monoamine levels in the nucleus accumbens.

麻酔ラットの十二指腸運動に及ぼす灸刺激の効果

灸刺激が十二指腸運動に与える効果について検討した。実験は人工呼吸下の麻酔ラットの十二指腸運動をバルーン法によって測定した。灸刺激は後肢足蹠と腹部に, 刺激温度および刺激時間が異なる, 間接灸と直接灸刺激を行い, 十二指腸運動の変化を観察した。ピンチ刺激による, 後肢足蹠刺激で十二指腸運動の亢進が, 腹部刺激で抑制が認められた。間接灸による, 後肢足蹠刺激及び腹部刺激では一定の反応が認められなかった。直接灸刺激による, 後肢足蹠刺激で十二指腸運動の亢進が, 腹部刺激で抑制が認められた。

Suppression of the DTH reaction in mice by means of moxibustion at electro-permeable points.

The effects of moxibustion stimulation on picryl chloride-induced cutaneous contact hypersensitivity, a delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, were investigated in mice. Three electro-permeable points (B-20, LI-15, S-36) were selected as moxibustion points. Moxibustion at point B-20 (spleen associated point) significantly suppressed the DTH reaction. Adoptive transfer of spleen T cells from moxibustion-stimulated donors resulted in an increased suppression of the DTH reaction in the recipients. These studies suggest that suppression of the DTH reaction with moxibustion may be related to cellular immunity, especially to the induction of the suppressive activity of T cells in the spleen.

Effects of single moxibustion on phagocytic activity in mice.

Effects of moxibustion stimulation on the phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system in ddY and ICR mice has been studied by using the carbon clearance methods. It was found that moxibustion stimulation induced the enhancement of the phagocytic activity with increased phagocytic indexes (K and a indexes) and lysosomal enzyme activities in mice peritoneal exudate cells and peritoneal macrophages. In addition, the increase of carbon uptake in the Kupffer cells of the liver after carbon injection can be seen by light microscopy when compared with that of nontreated mice. Few big holes on the cell surface of the macrophages obtained from the moxibustion mice were observed in scanning electron microscopical studies. These results suggest that the moxibustion treatment caused the enhancement of the host defence mechanisms in mice.