Warming Needle Moxibustion Research Articles

The experience of professor YIN Ke-jing in the treatment of abdominal distension after abdominal surgery with warming-needle moxibustion at Gōngsūn ( SP 4)

ObjectiveTo introduce the experience of professor YIN Ke-jing, a national senior and famous doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, in treatment of abdominal distension after abdominal surgery with warming-needle moxibustion at Gōngsūn (▪ SP 4). MethodsBilateral SP 4 were selected, and warming-needle moxibustion was adopted. The treatment was conducted for twice a day, and treatment for 3 days was considered as 1 course of treatment. The efficacy was evaluated after 2 courses. ResultsThe total effective rate was 96.9% of the 32 patients after treatment and observation for 2 courses. ConclusionThis therapeutic method was easy and simple with less acupoints selected and rapid onset of effect. With definite clinical efficacy, this method was worthy of being popularized.

Efficacy of Warm Needle Moxibustion on Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Meta-Analysis.

Clinical studies on the efficacy of warm needle moxibustion to treat lumbar disc herniation are increasing, while studies on the assessment of its efficacy are still lacking. To assess the clinical effect of warm needle moxibustion on lumbar disc herniation. We searched relevant trials that compared warm needle moxibustion with other methods for lumbar disc herniation from 9 databases. Warm needle moxibustion showed statistical significance efficiency rate compared with acupuncture and manipulation but had a similar rate with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It showed a statistically significanty excellent rate when compared with acupuncture and manipulation but had a similar rate with NSAIDs. Regarding Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, it showed statistical significance with acupuncture and manipulation, but the rate was similar with Chinese medicine and NSAIDs. Regarding visual analog scale score, it demonstrated statistical significance when compared with acupuncture, manipulation, and NSAIDs but had a similar rate with Chinese medicine. Warm needle moxibustion is superior to acupuncture and manipulation in terms of efficiency rate, excellent rate, and controlling of pain for lumbar disc herniation, but it is similar when compared with NSAIDs and Chinese medicine.

Acupuncture and moxibustion for functional hypothalamic amenorrhea by establishing artificial cycle: a controlled trial

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of functional amenorrhea by establishing artificial cycle. MethodOne hundred and twelve eligible patients with functional amenorrhea were divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (64 cases) and a western medication group (48 cases) by adopting random method. According to the pattern differentiation of amenorrhea of traditional Chinese medicine, the patients in the acupuncture-moxibustion group were classified into two types: amenorrhea due to blood depletion and amenorrhea due to stagnation of blood. For patients with amenorrhea due to blood depletion, Guānyuán (▪ CV 4), Zhöngjí (▪ CV 3), Guīlái (▪ ST 29), Géshū (▪ BL 17), Gānshū (▪ BL 18), Píshū (▪ BL 20) and Shènshù (▪ BL 23) were selected. At first, BL 17, BL 18, BL 20 and BL 23 were needled; after deqi, reinforcing method was applied, and the needles were not retained. Then, warming-needle moxibustion was applied at CV 4, CV 3 and ST 29, and the needles were retained for 30 min. For patients with amenorrhea due to stagnation of blood, CV 3, Qìhăi (▪ CV 6), Xuèhăi (▪ SP 10), Sānyīnjiāo (▪ SP 6) and Xíngjiān (▪ LR 2) were selected, reducing method was applied, and the needles were retained for 30 min. The treatment was performed once a day, and treatment for 15 consecutive days were the 1st cycle. The 2nd and 3rd cycles started from the 5th day of menstruation (for the patients still not menstruating, the 2nd and 3rd cycles started from the 29th and 57th days since the 1st day of treatment), and the treatment lasted for 15 days. Three cycles were needed. In the western medicine group, estrogen-progestogen was taken orally for 21 days (one cycle) to establish a artificial cycle. The levels of FSH and LH were tested and compared on the 3rd day of menstruation before treatment and after the 3rd cycle of treatment, and the adverse effects were analyzed statistically. Follow-up visit was conducted for the patients after treatment for three cycles, and the recurrence rate was calculated. ResultThe levels of FSH and LH of patients with functional amenorrhea were enhanced significantly through establishing artificial cycle by acupuncture and moxibustion. There was no significant difference between the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the western medication group in effective rate (P>0.05); but the adverse effect rate (1.49%) and recurrence rate (25.0%) of the acupuncture-moxibustion group were lower than that of the western medication group (with the adverse effect rate of 4.14%, and recurrence rate of 69.8%) (both P<0.05). ConclusionThe levels of FSH and LH of patients with functional amenorrhea can be enhanced significantly through establishing artificial cycle by acupuncture and moxibustion. The efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of functional amenorrhea by establishing artificial cycle is equivalent to that of oral administration of estrogen-progestogen in treatment of functional amenorrhea by establishing artificial cycle, but the adverse effect rate and recurrence rate of acupuncture and moxibustion group are lower.

Treatment of 30 patients with intractable facial paralysis by warming-needle moxibustion at Băihuì (GV 20) combined with penetration needling

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion at Băihuì (GV 20) combined with penetration needling in treatment of intractable facial paralysis. MethodsSixty patients with intractable facial paralysis included in the study were divided into two groups according to the random number table, with 30 patients in observation group (group A), and 30 patients in control group (group B). Moxibustion at GV 20 combined with penetration needling were adopted in group A, and simple penetration needling was applied in group B. Once daily, thirty days of treatment were required. The House Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grading and improvement of clinical symptoms were observed. ResultsThe H-B function grading and improvement of clinical symptoms in group A were superior to group B, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionThe clinical efficacy of moxibustion at GV 20 combined with penetration needling in treatment of intractable facial paralysis is definite, and the treatment method is deserving of clinical promotion.

Analyses on Clinical Trials Literature: the Characteristics of Acu-moxa Manipulation for Hyperlipidemia

Abstract Objective: To sort out and analyze on acupuncture-moxibustion (AM) based clinical trials literature for hyperlipidemia (HLP) so that to find out the characteristics of AM, by which the more rational strategy of AM for HLP could be made. Methods: We searched clinical trial paper on hyperlipidemia by AM in the main English and Chinese databases, included those met the eligibility, and employed the metrologic method to analyze and summarize the AM manipulation features. Results: (1) A total of 124 articles were included with 128 times of AM methods in this study. (2) AM methods were broadly distributed: 29 articles on mild moxibustion, 24 on manual acupuncture, 21 on electro-acupuncture, 6 on magnetic needle, 6 on herbal pastry-insulated moxibustion (HPIM), 4 on warming needle moxibustion (WNM), 3 on acupoint injection, 2 on laser exposure, 1 on intradermal imbedding needle, and 1 on needle-knife. (3) characteristics of AM: manual acupuncture focuses on the manipulation of reinforcement or reduction by inserting/lifting or twisting in different directions, based on pathopattern differentiation (deficiency or repletion). Electro-acupuncture, which is supposed to have no difference on reinforcement/reduction, mostly choose dilatational wave at a frequency between 2~100Hz, with around 30minutes needle-retainment and 30 sessions for the whole treatment; mild moxibustion takes around 10 minutes for each session on each acupoint; HPIM usually takes 3 to 5 cones for each session on each acupoint; WNM usually takes 30 minutes for each session, by being administered every day or every other day, for total 30 session. Conclusion: Currently the major used AM methods for HLP are manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and mild moxibustion. By turns they pay more attention on reinforcement/reduction, wave form and frequency, and dosage of moxibustion, respectively.

Treatment of 30 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy by acupuncture plus warming-needle moxibustion: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus warming-needle moxibustion for the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. MethodsSixty patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were randomly divided into a warming-needle moxibustion group (group A) and an acupuncture group (group B) according to random number table, with thirty cases in each group. For the patients in the group A, Fēngchí (▪ GB 20), Jīngjiāj▪ (Jiājī points on the neck), Dàzhuī (▪ GV 14), Dàzhù (▪ BL 11), Jùgŭ (▪ LI 16), Tiānzōng (▪ SI 11), Tiānliáo (▪ TE 15), Jiānjīng (▪ GB 21) and Hégù (▪ LI 4) were selected for warming-needle moxibustion. In the group B, Jiānliáo (▪ TE 14), Jiānyú (▪ LI 15), Qūchí (▪ LI 11), Tiānjīng (▪ TE 10), Yángchí (▪ TE 4), and Wàiguān (▪ TE 5) were selected for acupuncture. Both groups were treated once a day and ten times constituted a course of treatment. ResultsCompared with the group B, significant differences were observed in the group A after a course of treatment in terms of 20-score scoring for symptoms of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, VAS scoring and clinical efficacy [16.63±2.31 vs 15.67±2.48, 2.36±1.59 vs 3.9812.32, 100% (30/30) vs 86.7%, all P<0.05]. ConclusionAcupuncture plus warming-needle moxibustion can significantly reduce neck pain and improve neck function of patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, which is worthy of clinical application due to its simple manipulation.

Quality assessment of randomized controlled trials reporting on knee osteoarthritis treated with warming needle moxibustion

ObjectiveTo evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing the efficacy of warming needle moxibustion on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsNine databases were searched systematically including: the Cochrane Library (1/1993-10/2012), PubMed (1/1980-10/2012), EMBASE (1/1990-10/2012), SCI Expanded (1/1986-10/2012), Science Direct (1/1979-10/2012), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database disc (1/1978-10/2012), China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (1/1979-10/2012), China Science and Technology Journal Database (a full text issue database of China, 1/1989-10/2012), and Wanfang Database (a full text issue database of China, 1/1990-10/2012). Traditional reference retrieval was also conducted. Language was limited to Chinese and English. We identified 37 RCTs that used warming needle moxibustion as an intervention and they were assessed with the Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials Statement 2010 (CONSORT 2010) and Standards for Reporting Interventions Controlled Trials of Acupuncture 2010 (STRICTA 2010). ResultsOf the 37 reports, only seventeen (45.95%) mentioned the random allocation of sequence methods, nine used unacceptable methods, and only one (2.70%) gave the description of the mechanism of allocation concealment. One study (2.70%) mentioned blinding, one (2.70%) had a sample size calculation, and twenty-three (62.16%) used reasonable statistical methods. Thirteen (35.14%) described the background and reason for the RCTs, three (8.11%) gave a description of lost or eliminated patients, and two (5.41%) reported accidental situations. Only three (8.11%) gave analysis of the RCT limitations. No report mentioned intentional analysis. ConclusionThe quality of the RCTs assessed in this study was from moderate to low. The design of RCTs, the methods of statistical analysis, and the description of reports information needs to be improved. CONSORT 2010 and STRICTA 2010 should be used to standardize the reporting of acupuncture RCTs in the future.

Effect of warming needle moxibustion on pulmonary function of elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effects of warming needle moxibustion on pulmonary function of elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MethodEighty elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were divided randomly into an acupuncture group and a drug group, with forty cases in each group. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with warming needle moxibustion on specific acupoints. Main acupoints include Zùsānli (▪ ST 36), Fèishū (▪ BL 13) and Dìngchuaxn (▪ EX-B 1). Matching acupoints include Gāohuāng (▪ BL 43), Xīnshū (▪ BL 15), Dàzhuī (▪ GV 14) and Fēngmén (▪ BL 12). The acupoints were punctured with even reinforcing and reducing method. Meanwhile, two moxa stick of warming needle moxibustion were applied separately at the acupoints at back and ST 36. The needles were retained for approximately 0.5 h each time. The treatment was given every other day, 3 times a week and the course of treatment was 8 weeks. Patients in the drug group were treated by seretide inhalation (50 μg salmeterol and 250 μg fluticasone propionate), twice a day for 8 weeks. The improvement in pulmonary function and the symptom of chills and fever were compared between the two groups. ResultsAfter treatment, pulmonary function indices [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second to predicted value ratio (FEV1%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF)] of the patients in both groups were improved significantly compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P<0.05). Improvement in comprehensive scores of the symptom of chill and fever in the acupuncture group was significantly superior to that in the drug group after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment, respectively (P<0.05). ConclusionWarming needle moxibustion was obviously effective on the improvement in pulmonary function of elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Forty-six cases of postoperative pain in the waist and leg of lumbar disc herniation treated by warming needle moxibustion and electroacupuncture

ObjectiveTo explore therapeutic efficacy of warming needle moxibustion and electroacupuncture for postoperative pain in the waist and leg of lumbar disc herniation. MethodsForty-six cases were treated with warming needle moxibustion at Yāotū (▪, extra point, the same segment of injured disc herniation), regular acupuncture at Yāoyăn (▪ EX-B 7), Zhìbiān (▪ BL 54), Huántiào (▪ GB 30), Wěizhōng (▪ BL 40), Yánglíngquán (▪ GB 34) and electroacupuncture at Yāotū (▪), Zhìbian (▪ BL 54), Yánglíngquán (▪ GB 34). The treatment was given once a day, 10 treatments made up one session, and the therapeutic effect was assessed after 2 sessions of treatment. ResultsAfter the treatment, 31 cases (67.4%) were cured, 14 cases (30.4%) were effective and 1 case (2.2%) was failed. The total effective rate was 97.8%. ConclusionThe warming needle moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture has obvious therapeutic effect on postoperative pain in the waist and leg of lumbar disc herniation.

Observations on Curative Effect of High-frequency Electric Sparkle and Point-injection Therapy on Knee Osteoarthritis

To observe the curative effect of high-frequency electric sparkle and point-injection therapy (HESPT) on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Two hundred and five patients were randomly divided into a warming needle moxibustion group (68 cases), a HESPT group (68 cases) and a point-injection group (69 cases). In the warming needle moxibustion group, the main points of Xuehai (SP 10), Neixiyan (EX-LE4), Waixiyan (EX-LE), Dubi (ST 35), Zusanli (ST 36) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), and the adjunct points of Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), on the affected side, were chosen for stimulation. In the HESPT group, tenderness points, the main points of Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Neixiyan (EX-LE4), Waixiyan (EX-LE5) and Zusanli (ST 36), and the adjunct points of Yinlingquan (SP 9), Weizhong (BL 40) and Chengshan (BL 57), were chosen. After proper manipulation, Corydalis decumbens Pers. liquid was injected into the points and a high-frequency electric sparkle was applied to stimulate the needles for 30 seconds. In the point-injection group, point injection was performed with the same method, but the patients did not receive electric stimulation. The Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Lysholm Knee Score Scale (LKSS) and the ROM (Range of Motion) scale were used to evaluate the severity of KOA and the function of knee joints before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. Finally, the Nimodipine method was used to assess the total curative effect. After HESPT treatment, the scores for pain, morning stiffness and swelling were significantly lower (P < 0.01) and LKSS index and ROM were much higher (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively) compared to the two other groups. The obviously effective rate and total effective rate were also significantly higher in the HESPT group than in the two other groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). HESPT can improve joint function in KOA patients, and the curative effect is better than for warming needle moxibustion or point-injection only.

Warm needle moxibustion therapy for 41 cases of dysmenorrhea

Warm needle moxibustion therapy for 41 cases of dysmenorrhea

Clinical study on warming needle moxibustion plus Tuina for shoulder periarthritis

Objective In order to compare the therapeutic effects between warming needle moxibustion plus Tuina therapy and single Tuina therapy for shoulder periarthritis.

Treatment of 78 cases of shoulder periarthritis by warming-needle method

Jiansanzhen, Tianzong (SI 11), Jugu (LI 16), Jianzhen (SI 9), Binao (LI 14) and Quchi (LI 11) were given warming-needle moxibustion to treat shoulder periarthritis in 78 cases, and the result showed total effective rate was 97.4%.