The Practice of Korean Medicine: An Overview of Clinical Trials in Acupuncture Acupuncture for Chronic Pain in Japan: A Review The different immunomodulation of indirect moxibustion on normal subjects and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Insomnia due to deficiency of both the heart and spleen treated by acupuncture-moxibustion and Chinese tuina. [Chronic neck pain of cervical spondylosis treated with acupuncture and moxibustion in terms of the heart and kidney theory: a randomized controlled trial]. [Post-stroke depression treated with acupuncture and moxibustion: an evaluation of therapeutic effect and safety]. Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with medicated moxibustion plus salicylazosulfapyridine and methotrexate--a report of 30 cases. [Effects of warming needle moxibustion on improvement of gastrointestinal and immune function in patients with postoperation of colorectal cancer]. Observation of the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in 62 cases of chronic colitis. The Effectiveness of Moxibustion: An Overview During 10 Years Comparison of heat-sensitive moxibustion versus fluticasone/salmeterol (seretide) combination in the treatment of chronic persistent asthma: design of a multicenter randomized controlled trial [Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at "cervical three points" combined with cake-separated moxibustion on cervical hyperosteogeny]. Side-effects of moxibustion for cephalic version of breech presentation. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Opiate Addiction [Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on hyperemesis gravidarum]. The effectiveness of moxibustion for the treatment of functional constipation: a randomized, sham-controlled, patient blinded, pilot clinical trial Moxibustion Treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multi-Centre, Non-Blinded, Randomised Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness and Safety of the Moxibustion Treatment versus Usual Care in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients [Controlled study on treatment of cervical spondylopathy of the nerve root type with acupuncture, moxibustion and massage as main]. Influence of Acupuncture on the Outcomes of in Vitro Fertilisation When Embryo Implantation Has Failed: A Prospective Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial [Clinical observation of "Yinqi Guiyuan needles therapy" combined with moxibustion at Yongquan (KI 1) on perimenopausal insomnia with heart-kidney imbalance]. Acupuncture and Moxibustion as An Adjunctive Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee - a Large Case Series [Randomized controlled study on ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion at shenque (CV 8) on urination disorders poststroke]. Comparison of the Efficacy between Conventional Moxibustion and Smoke-Free Moxibustion on Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Acupuncture , one of the Oriental medical therapeutic techniques that can be traced back at least 2500 years , is growing in popularity all over the world . Korea has continued to develop its own unique tradition of medicine throughout its long history , and has formed different types of acupuncture methods . The purpose of this review is to summarize clinical case studies in acupuncture and related therapies , such as acupressure , electric acupuncture , auricular acupuncture and moxibustion in Korea . A survey of Korean journals revealed that a total of 124 studies were published from 1983 to 2001 . Results obtained from the survey showed that most clinical studies using acupuncture , electric acupuncture , moxibustion and other traditional therapies could alleviate a relatively broad range of medical problems . However , it should be emphasized that almost all clinical case studies published in various local journals did not follow the ‘ good clinical practice ’ with respect to regulatory aspects . Since they were not conducted using the r and omized double-blinded controls with a large sample size , all the results should be considered as therapeutic indications . This review is an attempt to show the scope of acupuncture in our country and the kind of diseases , after many years of clinical experience , that were deemed valid targets for clinical trials Many Japanese reports of acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic pain are not listed in medical data bases such as Medline . Therefore , they are not easily accessible to research ers outside of Japan . To complement existing review s of acupuncture and moxibustion for chronic pain and to provide more detailed discussion and analysis , we did a literature search using ‘ Igaku Chuo Zasshi We d ’ ( Japana Centra Revuo Medicina ) and ‘ Citation Information by National Institute of Information ’ covering the period 1978–2006 . Original articles and case reports of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of chronic pain were included . Animal studies , surveys , and news articles were excluded . Two independent review ers extracted data from located articles in a pre-defined structured way , and assessed the likelihood of causality in each case . We located 57 papers written in Japanese ( 20 full papers , 37 case reports ) . Conditions examined were headache ( 12 trials ) , chronic low back pain ( 9 trials ) , rheumatoid arthritis ( 8 trials ) , temporom and ibular dysfunction ( 8 trials ) , katakori ( 8 trials ) and others ( 12 trials ) . While 23 were described as clinical control trials ( CCTs ) , 11 employed a quasi-r and om method . Applying the 5-point Jadad quality assessment scoring system , the mean score was 1.5 ± 1.3 ( SD ) . Eleven ( 52 % ) of the CCTs were conducted to determine a more effective procedure for acupuncture ; these compared a certain type of acupuncture with another type of acupuncture or specific additional points . In particular , the trigger point acupuncture was widely used to treat chronic low back pain in Japan . Many reports of chronic pain treatment by acupuncture and moxibustion are listed in Japanese data bases . From the data , we conclude that there is limited evidence that acupuncture is more effective than no treatment , and inconclusive evidence that trigger point acupuncture is more effective than placebo , sham acupuncture or st and ard care Moxibustion has been thought to enhance immunity in healthy condition , but suppress abnormal immune response in disease status . We collected 12 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ) and 12 healthy women who received indirect moxibustion on acupuncture points ST-36 ( Zusanli ) and SP-6 ( Sanyinjiao ) 20 minutes per day for 1 week . During the course , there were no changes of their regular medications or intercurrent infections in normal subjects and SLE patients . We found that indirect moxibustion for 1 week could elevate CD3 + and CD4 + T-lymphocytes in normal subjects , whereas decrease relative proportions of CD8 + T-lymphocytes in patients with SLE . This result confirms that indirect moxibustion has different immunomodulation in normal condition and autoimmune status . However , whether immunomodulatory effects of indirect moxibustion are beneficial for normal subjects and patients with SLE require further confirmation OBJECTIVE To observe therapeutic effects of the comprehensive therapy of acupuncture-moxibustion and Chinese Tuina for treatment of insomnia due to deficiency of both the heart and spleen . METHODS 92 cases were divided r and omly into the treatment group ( treated by acupuncture-moxibustion and Chinese Tuina ) and the control group ( treated by acupuncture-moxibustion ) . RESULTS The therapeutic effect of the treatment group was obviously superior to that of the control group ( the CHI2 test showed P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSIONS The comprehensive therapy of acupuncture-moxibustion and Chinese Tuina can give marked therapeutic effects for treatment of insomnia due to deficiency of both the heart and spleen OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on chronic neck pain of cervical spondylosis in terms of the heart and kidney theory . METHODS One hundred and eleven cases were r and omized into a heart-kidney acupuncture group ( 55 cases ) and a conventional acupuncture group ( 56 cases ) . In the heart-kidney acupuncture group , acupuncture was applied to Bailao ( EX-HN 15 ) , Shenmen ( HT 7 ) and Wangu ( SI 4 ) . Afterwards , the direct moxibustion was applied to Dazhui ( GV 14 ) , Xinshu ( BL 15 ) and Shenshu ( BL 23 ) . After moxibustion , the intradermal needling therapy was provided at Bailao ( EX-HN 15 ) , Xinshu ( BL 15 ) and Shenshu ( BL 23 ) . In the conventional acupuncture group , acupuncture was applied to Bailao ( EX-HN 15 ) and Zhongzhu ( TE 3 ) at first . Afterwards , the direct moxibustion was done at Dazhui ( GV 14 ) , Bailao ( EX-HN 15 ) and Jianzhongshu ( SI 15 ) . After moxibustion , the interdermal needling therapy was provided at Bailao ( EX-HN 15 ) and Jianzhongshu ( SI 15 ) . The northwick park pain question naire ( NPQ ) was adopted as the main efficacy index for the evaluation . RESULTS After the intervention and during the follow-up visit period , NPQ scores were all reduced remarkably as compared with those before the intervention for the patients in two groups ( all P < 0.001 ) , but the differences were not statistically significant in groups ( all P > 0.05 ) . By the age stratification analysis for the patients in two groups , the program in terms of the heart and kidney theory achieved the superior efficacy for the patients over 45 years old as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group ( P < 0.05 , P < 0.01 ) . By the stratification analysis of the sick duration , the program in terms of the heart and kidney theory achieved the superior efficacy for the patients with over 7 years sick duration as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group ( P < 0.05 , P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION The acupuncture and moxibustion therapeutic program in terms of the heart and kidney theory achieves the superior efficacy on chronic pain of cervical spondylosis for the patients over 45 years old and with over 7 years sick duration . It is one of the optimized programs for the treatment of this disease OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of post-stroke depression ( PSD ) by regulating the liver and strengthening the root prescription . METHODS In light of the r and om controlled trial principle , 123 cases were r and omized into an acupuncture-moxibustion group ( 42 cases ) , a medication group ( 40 cases ) and an acupuncture + medication group ( 41 cases ) . In the acupuncture-moxibustion group , the therapy of regulating the liver and strengthening the root was applied . Acupuncture was given at Hegu ( LI 4 ) , Taichong ( LR 3 ) , Baihui ( GV 20 , Yintang ( GV 29 ) , etc . The granule moxibustion was applied at Zhongwan ( CV 12 ) , Xiawan ( CV 10 ) , Guanyuan ( CV 4 ) and Qihai ( CV 6 ) . The treatment was given once a day and stopped in weekend . In the medication group , paroxetine hydrochloride tablets were prescribed for oral administration , 20 mg each day after breakfast . In the acupuncture + medication group , the therapies were adopted as the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the medication group . In the 2nd and 4th week of treatment , HAMD was used as the primary index and Barthel index as the secondary one for the efficacy assessment in the three groups respectively . The spleen and stomach syndrome scale of TCM was used for the assessment of TCM syndrome efficacy . Treatment emergent symptom scale ( TESS ) was applied for the safety assessment . RESULTS In the 4th week of treatment , the markedly effective rates were 69.0 % ( 29/42 ) , 65.0 % ( 26/40 ) and 70.7 % ( 29/41 ) in the acupuncture-moxibustion group , the medication group and the acupuncture + medication group respectively . The efficacies of anti-depression were similar in comparison among groups ( P > 0.05 ) . In the 2nd week of treatment , the improvement of HAMD score was significant in the acupuncture + medication group as compared with that before treatment and in comparison with the medication group ( P < 0.05 , P < 0.01 ) . As for improving Barthel index , reducing the spleen and stomach symptom score of TCM and decreasing the score of TESS , the results in the acupuncture-moxibustion group and the acupuncture + medication group were superior to those in the medication group ( P < 0.05 , P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION The therapy of acupuncture and moxibustion with regulating the liver and strengthening the root achieves the definite efficacy of anti-depression and presents the quite high safety in treatment OBJECTIVE To evaluate the therapeutic effect of medicated moxibustion plus administration of salicylazosulfapyridine ( SASP ) and methotrexate ( MTX ) for treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis ( AS ) . METHOD Ninety cases of active AS were r and omly assigned to Group A , B and C ( N = 30 in each group ) , and treated respectively with SASP and MTX , acupuncture plus SASP and MTX , and composite sulfur ( tablet ) moxibustion plus SASP and MTX for 3 successive courses ( 2 months each course with an interval of 5 days ) . RESULTS Improvement in sacroiliitis index , Schober test , occipital wall test , finger-ground distance , as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ) and the content of C-reactive protein ( CRP ) in Group B and C was far superior to that of Group A ( P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSION Combined use of western medicine with acupuncture or with medicated moxibustion produces a better therapeutic effect than western medicine given alone OBJECTIVE To verify the clinical therapeutic effect of warming needle moxibustion on improvement of the gastrointestinal and immune function in patients with postoperation of colorectal cancer . METHODS One hundred and five patients with postoperation of colorectal cancer were r and omly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group , a Chinese medicine group and a routine treatment group , 35 cases in each group . They were all treated with gastrointestinal decompression and fluid replacement after operation . The acupuncture and moxibustion group was also treated with warming needle moxibustion on the 1st day after operation , and Zusanli ( ST 36 ) , Shangjuxu ( ST 37 ) and Xiajuxu ( ST 39 ) etc . were selected , once a day for 10 days , and the Chinese medicine group with Simo Decoction oral solution , three times daily for 10 days . The gastrointestinal function , peripheral blood components and changes of T lymphocyte and NK cells in postoperative patients were observed . RESULTS The time of the first bowel sound , exhaust and defecation in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were all shorter than those in the Chinese medicine group and the routine treatment group ( P<0.05 , P<0.01 ) . On the 10th day after operation , the percentages distribution of lymphocyte and neutrophil in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were better than those in the Chinese medicine group and the routine treatment group ( all P<0.05 ) . The acupuncture and moxibustion group was also superior to the Chinese medicine group and the routine treatment group in improving the subgroup of T lymphocyte , NK cells and the digestive system symptoms ( all P<0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Warming needle moxibustion has a good therapeutic effect on gastrointestinal function and can regulate bidirectionally peripheral blood lymphocyte and neutrophile granulocyte and improve the T lymphocyte subgroup and NK cells so as to promote the recovery of immune function in patients with colorectal cancer after operation 62 patients with chronic colitis were r and omly divided into two groups . Acupuncture and moxibustion at acupoints such as Tianshu ( St 25 ) , Guanyuan ( Ren 4 ) were applied in the treatment group , and western drugs were applied in the control group . The results showed that acupuncture and moxibustion had a marked curative effective with few side effects , and therefore was readily acceptable to the patients Moxibustion has been used to treat various types of disease . However , there is still insufficient evidence regarding its effectiveness . This study was performed to summarize and evaluate the effectiveness of moxibustion . A search was performed for all r and omized controlled trials in PubMed between January 1998 and July 2008 with no language restriction . The results yielded 47 trials in which six moxibustion types were applied to 36 diseases ranging from breech presentation to digestive disorders .  Moxibustion was compared to three types of control group : general care , Oriental medical therapies or waiting list . Moxibustion was superior to the control in 14 out of 54 control groups in 46 studies . There were no significant differences among groups in 7 studies , and the outcome direction was not determined in 33 studies . Seven studies were included in a meta- analysis . Moxibustion was more effective than medication in two ulcerative colitis studies ( relative risk ( 95 % CI ) , 2.20 ( 1.37 , 3.52 ) , P = .001 , I 2 = 0 % ) . Overall , our results did not support the effectiveness of moxibustion  in specific diseases due to the limited number and low quality of the studies and inadequate use of controls . In order to provide appropriate evidence regarding the effectiveness of moxibustion , more rigorous clinical trials using appropriate controls are warranted Background Asthma is a major health problem and has significant mortality around the world . Although the symptoms can be controlled by drug treatment in most patients , effective low-risk , non-drug strategies could constitute a significant advance in asthma management . An increasing number of patients with asthma are attracted by acupuncture and moxibustion . Therefore , it is of importance that scientific evidence about the efficacy of this type of therapy is regarded . Our past research es suggested heat-sensitive moxibustion might be effective in treatment of asthma . Our objective is to investigate the effectiveness of  heat-sensitive moxibustion  compared with conventional drug treatment . Methods / Design This study is comprised of a multi-centre ( 12 centers in China ) , r and omized , controlled trial with two parallel arms ( A : heat-sensitive moxibustion ; B : conventional drug ) . Group A selects heat- sensitive acupoints from the rectangle region which consist of two outer lateral lines of dorsal Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang , and two horizontal lines of BL13(Fei Shu ) and BL17 ( Ge Shu);6 inch outer the first and second rib gap of anterior chest . Group B treats with fluticasone/salmeterol ( seretide ) . The outcome measures will be assessed over a 3-month period before each clinic visit at days 15 , 30 , 60 , and 90 . Follow-up visit will be at 3 , 6 months after the last treatment session . Adverse event information will be collected at each clinic visit . Discussion This trial will utilize high quality trial method ologies in accordance with CONSORT guidelines . It may provide evidence for the effectiveness of heat-sensitive moxibustion as a treatment for chronic moderate persistent asthma . Moreover , the result may propose a new type moxibustion to control asthma . Trial Registration The trial is registered at Chinese Clinical Trials Registry : OBJECTIVE To compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture at " cervical three points " combined with cake-separated moxibustion and routine acupuncture at Jiaji ( EX-B 2 ) on cervical hyperosteogeny . METHODS Single blind , r and omized and controlled methods were used and 91 cases were divided into an observation group of 46 cases and a control group of 45 cases . The observation group was treated by acupuncture at " cervical three points " combined with cake-separated moxibustion , i.e. acupuncture at Chonggu ( EX ) , Dazhui ( GV 14 ) , Taodao ( GV 13 ) and moxibustion at pain points with cake made by Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and Radix Paeoniae Alba ; the control group was treated with acupuncture at Jiaji ( EX-B 2 ) . Changes of sourness and pain of the neck , the shoulder and back , pressure pain and cervical activity scores were used for assessment of therapeutic effects . RESULTS The markedly cured rate of 76.1 % in the observation group was better than 42.2 % in the control group ( P<0.05 ) . After treatment , the scores of all the items were significantly improved in the two groups ( all P<0.05 ) , and the observation group in sourness and pain of the neck , the shoulder and back , and cervical activity were better than the control group ( all P<0.05 ) . CONCLUSION The therapeutic effect of acupuncture at " cervical three points " combined with cake-separated moxibustion on cervical hyperosteogeny is superior to routine acupuncture at Jiaji ( EX-B 2 ) OBJECTIVES Moxibustion , a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique related to acupuncture , was proposed to facilitate cephalic version of breech presentation . Several trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy , but there are few reports on the safety of moxibustion . Our objective was to assess the side-effects and acceptability of this intervention . DESIGN We are conducting a r and omized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion for breech version . The first 12 participants r and omized in the moxibustion group had additional fetal surveillance by electronic monitoring . SUBJECTS Pregnant women with a fetus in breech presentation are included in the trial between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation . INTERVENTIONS We performed a cardiotocogram during 10 minutes before , 20 minutes during , and 10 minutes after each session . A maximum of 9 sessions were scheduled every other day , and stopped when cephalic version was diagnosed . The recordings were assessed by 3 independent readers using the Fischer scoring system . OUTCOME MEASURES Fetal well-being was evaluated by the cardiotocogram ; effect on the mother was evaluated by blood pressure recorded before and after each session ; maternal views , contractions , and perceived changes in fetal movements were assessed using a question naire . RESULTS A total of 65 cardiotocograms were analyzed . All scores were considered as normal , being at 8 or more on a 0 - 10 scale . Acceptability for the women and compliance to the intervention were good . No significant maternal or fetal side-effect was observed . CONCLUSIONS We have not detected alterations of fetal and maternal well-being or other side-effects associated with moxibustion applied to the BL 67 for cephalic version of breech presentations . Moxibustion appears to be safe for both the mother and the fetus Acupuncture is an accepted treatment worldwide for various clinical conditions , and the effects of acupuncture on opiate addiction have been investigated in many clinical trials . The present review systematic ally analyzed data from r and omized clinical trials published in Chinese and English since 1970 . We found that the majority agreed on the efficacy of acupuncture as a strategy for the treatment of opiate addiction . However , some of the methods in several included trials have been criticized for their poor quality . This review summarizes the quality of the study design , the types of acupuncture applied , the commonly selected acupoints or sites of the body , the effectiveness of the treatment , and the possible mechanism underlying the effectiveness of acupuncture  in these trials OBJECTIVE To search for the best method for treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum . METHODS One hundred and fifty cases of hyperemesis gravidarum were r and omly divided into 3 groups , acup-moxibustion group , Chinese drug group and Western medicine group , 50 cases in each group . The acup-moxibustion group were treated with acupuncture at Zhongwan ( CV 12 ) , Neiguan ( PC 6 ) , Zusanli ( ST 36 ) and Yinlingquan ( SP 9 ) , and after arrival of qi , mild warming moxibustion of 10 - 15 min was added ; the Chinese drug group with oral administration of modified Suye Huanglian Decoction , and the Western medicine group with oral administration of phenobarbital and supplement of water and electrolyte . RESULTS The total effective rate was 86.0 % in the acup-moxibustion group , 42.0 % in the Chinese drug group and 38.0 % in the Western medicine group with a significant difference among the 3 groups ( P < 0.05 ) , the therapeutic effect in the acup-moxibustion group being the best . CONCLUSION Acup-moxibustion is the best method for hyperemesis gravidarum Background Moxibustion is an ancient traditional medicine using burning mugworts to stimulate acupuncture points . The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of moxibustion for the treatment of constipation using a r and omized , sham-controlled , participant-blinded , pilot trial . Methods Twenty-six participants ( identified with either qi ( vital energy ) deficiency or qi excess syndrome ) were r and omly divided into either a moxibustion or sham group . Participants were treated with real or sham moxibustion at 4 acupuncture points , ST23 and ST27 , bilaterally , 3 times per week for four weeks . The primary outcome was the frequency of defecations ; secondary outcomes were the Bristol stool form scale ( BSS ) and the constipation assessment scale ( CAS ) . Results Of the 26 participants that were r and omized , 24 completed the study .  Defecation frequency , BSS , and CAS showed no difference between the moxibustion and sham groups . The differences were -0.25 ( 95 % CI : -2.08 , 1.58 , p = 0.78 ) , -1.22 ( 95 % CI : -2.7 , 0.26 , p = 0.1 ) , 0.91 ( 95 % CI : -1.46 , 3.28 , p = 0.44 ) in defecation frequency , BSS , CAS , respectively . The defecation frequency increased from an average of 3.3 to 4.6 times per week in the moxibustion group ( 1.5[-0.5 , 2 ] , p = 0.06 ) and from 2.7 to 3.7 stools per week in the sham group ( 1[-1 , 2 ] , p = 0.15 ) after four weeks of treatment . The difference between participants with a deficiency or an excess syndrome , determined based on assessment of sweat , facial features , pain , body energy , and pulse type , was significant in only defecation frequency . The difference was 3.3 ( 95 % CI : 0.41 , 6.19 , p = 0.03 ) . Conclusion Moxibustion treatment appears safe , but showed no positive effect on constipation . The effectiveness of moxibustion treatment may depend on the syndrome pattern , and further long-term studies with a larger number of subjects are warranted . Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service , Introduction This study tested the effectiveness of moxibustion on pain and function in chronic knee osteoarthritis ( KOA ) and evaluated safety . Methods A multi-centre , non-blinded , parallel-group , r and omised controlled trial compared moxibustion with usual care ( UC ) in KOA . 212 South Korean patients aged 40–70 were recruited from 2011–12 , stratified by mild ( Kellgren/Lawrence scale grade s 0/1 ) and moderate-severe KOA ( grade s 2/3/4 ) , and r and omly allocated to moxibustion  or UC  for four weeks . Moxibustion involved burning mugwort devices over acupuncture and Ashi points in affected knee(s ) . UC was allowed . Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Question naire ( K-WOMAC ) , Short Form 36 Health Survey ( SF-36v2 ) , Beck Depression Inventory ( BDI ) , physical performance test , pain numeric rating scale ( NRS ) and adverse events were evaluated at 5 and 13 weeks . K-WOMAC global score at 5 weeks was the primary outcome . Results 102 patients ( 73 mild , 29 moderate-severe ) were allocated to moxibustion , 110 ( 77 mild , 33 moderate-severe ) to UC . K-WOMAC global score ( moxibustion 25.42+/−SD 19.26 , UC 33.60+/−17.91 , p<0.01 , effect size = 0.0477 ) , NRS ( moxibustion 44.77+/−22.73 , UC 56.23+/−17.71 , p<0.01 , effect size = 0.0073 ) and timed-st and test  ( moxibustion 24.79+/−9.76 , UC 25.24+/−8.84 , p = 0.0486 , effect size = 0.0021 ) were improved by moxibustion at 5 weeks . The primary outcome improved for mild but not moderate-severe KOA . At 13 weeks , moxibustion significantly improved the K-WOMAC global score and NRS .  Moxibustion  improved SF-36 physical component summary ( p = 0.0299 ) , bodily pain ( p = 0.0003 ) , physical functioning ( p = 0.0025 ) and social functioning ( p = 0.0418 ) at 5 weeks , with no difference in mental component summary at 5 and 13 weeks . BDI showed no difference ( p = 0.34 ) at 5 weeks . After 1158 moxibustion treatments , 121 adverse events included first ( n = 6 ) and second degree ( n = 113 ) burns , pruritus and fatigue ( n = 2 ) . Conclusions Moxibustion may improve pain , function and quality of life in KOA patients , but adverse events are common . Limitations included no sham control or blinding . Trial Registration Clinical Research Information Service ( CRIS ) OBJECTIVE To probe into clinical value of comprehensive program of acupuncture , moxibustion and massage as main for treatment of cervical spondylopathy of the nerve root type . METHODS Five centers , single blind , r and omized controlled method were used , 660 cases were divided into a treatment group of 317 cases and a control group of 311 cases . They were treated respectively with comprehensive program of acupuncture , moxibustion and massage as main , and comprehensive program of physical therapy as main . Establish syndrome detection scale and multiply dimensional effect assessment indexes , and evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety . RESULTS The cured rate , the cured-markedly effective rate were 42.9 % , 64.4 % in the treatment group , respectively , better than 16.7 % , 36.3 % in the control group ( P<0.01 ) ; after treatment of 2 weeks , clinical symptoms improved in the both groups , but the treatment group was better than the control group in the improvement degrees of neck-shoulder-limb pain , neck rigidity , abnormality of cervical anteflexion , etc . ( P<0.01 or P<0.05 ) ; the treatment group was shorter than the control group in the time of producing the effect and therapeutic course ( P<0.01 ) . CONCLUSION Comprehensive program of acupuncture , moxibustion and massage as main is safe and effective for treatment of cervical spondylopathy , with a better therapeutic effect compared with the comprehensive program of physical therapy Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion as an adjuvant treatment in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation ( IVF ) when embryo implantation has failed . Methods A prospect i ve , r and omised controlled clinical trial was conducted with 84 infertile patients who had had at least two unsuccessful attempts of IVF . The patients were r and omised in three groups : control ( n=28 ) , sham ( n=28 ) and acupuncture ( n=28 ) . The sample size was calculated by assuming a pregnancy rate of 10 % when embryo implantation had failed . The pregnancy rates of the current IVF cycle were evaluated by measurement of blood β human chorionic gonadotrophin ( βhCG ) and subsequent transvaginal ultrasound .  Acupuncture was performed on the first and seventh day of ovulation induction , on the day before ovarian puncture and on the day after embryo transfer . In the acupuncture group , patients were treated with moxibustion at nine acupuncture points ( BL18 , BL22 , BL23 , BL52 , CV3 , CV4 , CV5 , CV7 , GV4 ) and needling at 12 points . In the sham group needles were inserted in eight areas that did not correspond to known acupuncture points . Results The clinical pregnancy rate in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the control and sham groups ( 35.7 % vs 7.1 % vs 10.7 % ; p=0.0169 ) . Conclusions In this study , acupuncture and moxibustion  increased pregnancy rates when used as an adjuvant treatment in women undergoing IVF , when embryo implantation had failed OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of " Yinqi Guiyuan needles therapy " combined with moxibustion at yongquan ( KI 1 ) on perimenopausal insomnia ( PMI ) with heart-kidney imbalance . METHODS One hundred patients of PMI with heart-kidney imbalance were r and omly divided into a medication group and an acupuncture group , 50 cases in each group . In the medication group , diazepam and oryzanol were given . " Yinqi Guiyuan needles therapy " combined with moxibustion at yongquan ( KI 1 ) were applied in the acupuncture group . The treatment was given for 2 courses , 10 days as a course . Before and after treatment , the Pittsburgh sleep quality index ( PSQI ) scale was used to evaluate the improvement of sleep quality in the two groups , and the clinical efficacy was compared . RESULTS After 2 courses of treatment , the total PSQI score was ( 4.88±1.80 ) in the acupuncture group , which was significantly lower than ( 8.00±1.93 ) in the medication group , and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05 ) . Except for the sleep efficiency , the scores of other components in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group , and the differences were statistically significant ( all P<0.05 ) . The total effective rate was 90.0 % ( 45/50 ) in the acupuncture group and 68.0 % ( 34/50 ) in the medication group . The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05 ) . There was no obvious adverse reactions in entire course of the treatment in the acupuncture group and the safety was satisfactory . CONCLUSION " Yinqi Guiyuan needles therapy " combined with moxibustion at Yongquan ( KI 1 ) on PMI with heart-kidney imbalance has good clinical effect Background In 1997 , the first Pain Management Unit , which was set up as part of primary health care within the And alusian Public Health System , offered acupuncture among other therapies . This observational study was conducted in preparation for a r and omised controlled trial . Methods We conducted a descriptive study of patients who had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee . The patients received weekly acupuncture treatment , and related techniques , from November 1997 to November 2000 . We recorded : socio-demographic data ; measures of effectiveness , including intensity and frequency of pain ; the daily dose of analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication ; the degree of incapacity ; and sleep disorders caused by pain in the knee . Results The 563 patients who presented were mainly female ( 88 % ) with an average age of 65 years ( ±10.7 ) ; the average age of the male patients was 67 years ( ±11.8 ) . The condition in most patients ( 95 % ) was chronic : 54 % had the condition for 5 - 10 years and a further 23 % for more than 10 years . Of the total , 85 ( 15 % ) ab and oned treatment and were excluded from the evaluation , while 75 % of the remainder achieved a reduction in pain of 45 % or more . This study is intended to form the basis for a subsequent controlled clinical trial of the effectiveness of acupuncture  as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee . Conclusion The degree of pain relief experienced by patients from acupuncture justifies a more rigorous study OBJECTIVE To probe the therapeutic effect and safety of ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion on urination disorders poststroke . METHODS Eighty-two cases of cerebral apoplexy , including cerebral infa rct ion and cerebral hemorrhage , with urination disorders induced by neurogenic bladder at restoration stage were r and omly divided into a treatment group treated with ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion at Shenque ( CV 8) and routine acupuncture , and a control group treated with routine acupuncture .  Thirty-nine cases in the treatment group and 36 cases in the control group completed all treatments . The treatment was given 5 times each week and the therapeutic effects were observed after treatment of 3 consecutive weeks . RESULTS Ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion in improvement of mean urination times of each day , mean times to be asked to awaken for the nursing personnel at night , mean times of urgent urinary incontinence at day for the patient , cases-times of urinary incontinence of the patient at night , and increasing degree of urinary incontinence was better than the control group ( P<0.01 , P<0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Ginger-salt-partitioned moxibustion is a safe and effective therapy for urination disorders poststroke Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of efficacy between conventional moxibustion ( CM ) and smoke-free moxibustion ( SM ) for patients with osteoarthritis of the knee ( KOA ) . Methods This is a multicentre , r and omized , single blinded , parallel-group clinical trial . Patients with KOA were r and omly allocated to CM group ( 69 ) and SM group ( 69 ) in 7 hospitals of China .  Moxibustion treatment in 12 sessions over 4 weeks was administrated at 3 acupuncture points ( EX-LE4 , ST35 , and ST36 ) . Patients completed st and ard question naires at baseline and after 2 weeks , 4 weeks , 8 weeks , and 12 weeks . The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index ( WOMAC ) from the baseline to 4 weeks . The secondary outcomes include Visual Analogue Scale ( VAS ) and Patient Global Assessment score ( PGA ) . Results Analyses showed that the WOMAC score improved in pain ( 95 % CI,-0.1[-1.2 to 0.9 ] , p=0.76 ) , stiffness ( 95 % CI,-0.1 [ -0.5 to 0.3 ] , p=0.71 ) , and function ( 95 % CI , 2.2 [ -1.3 to 5.8 ] , p=0.22 ) compared between the two groups at 4 weeks , as well as the VAS score ( 95 % CI,0.1 [ -0.3 to 0.6 ] , p=0.60 ) . Similar results presented at 8 and 12 weeks . No statistically significant difference was observed between CM and SM groups for outcome measurements . Conclusions It suggested that smoke generated during moxibustion treatment does not affect the efficacy of moxibustion in the treatment of KOA , which should be taken into account to be removed for the sake of reducing environmental pollution or moxa smoke exposure of acupuncturists or patients . This trial is registered with Clinical Trials.gov , NCT02772055
This systematic review fails to provide conclusive evidence for the effectiveness of moxibustion compared with drug therapy in rheumatic conditions .
Moxibustion , an acupuncture-like intervention , is increasingly used in the management of rheumatic conditions .
The aim of this review is to summarize and critically evaluate the trials testing effectiveness of moxibustion for major rheumatic conditions .