Development and application of the practical training instrument of warming needle moxibustion with quantifiable evaluation

Based on summarizing the essential procedures and elements of traditional manipulation techniques of warming needle moxibustion and determining the quantitative parameters and indicators for evaluating the operation of this acupuncture technique, a training instrument of warming needle moxibustion was developed and adopted in the curriculum teaching of practice. It showed that this instrument could quantify the speed of fixing mugwort ball on the needle handle, the number of the prepared mugwort ball, the duration for anti-vibration, the frequency of anti-vibration and the burning time of mugwort ball. The instrument could objectively evaluate the skills of warming needle moxibustion and the effects of fixing mugwort ball. Besides, it may provide the references to improve the protocol of the future research. The development and application of the practical training instrument of warming needle moxibustion is conductive to cultivate the standardization and accuracy of the technique operation in students, and it is significant for objectif-ying the teaching course of warming needle and teaching assessment, as well as for diversifying the teaching modes. Moreover, it plays an exemplary role in the practical training of other acupuncture and moxibustion techniques.

Warming needle moxibustion for Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

To systematically research the impact of warming needle moxibustion (WNM) for Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

METHODS

Four Chinese databases and six English databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving the use of WNM to intervene in AD patients were included. Data were extracted from the included studies and methodological quality was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention 5.1.0. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

8 RCTs comprising 524 patients were included. Most studies had no significant bias. The study showed that WNM was more effective in the treatment of AD than acupuncture or pharmacotherapy. The findings were as follows: MMSE (MD = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.13, 1.90, P = 0.03) and CDR (MD = -0.73, 95%CI: -0.84, -0.61, P < 0.00001) for global cognitive function, ADL (MD = -1.84, 95%CI: -2.47, -1.22, P < 0.00001) for activities of daily living, Syndrome Differentiation Scale of Dementia (SDSD) (MD = -2.67, 95%CI: -3.62, -1.72, P < 0.00001), and the total effective rate of patients (OR = 3.20, 95%CI: 1.90 to 5.38, P < 0.0001). The differences in all indicators were statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

WNM might have a significant effect on improving cognitive function and daily living ability, reducing the symptoms of AD, and increase the total effective rate. WNM is an effective non-pharmacological therapy for patients with AD.

[Warming Needle Moxibustion Relieves Symptoms of Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients and Upregulates Plasma β-endorphin]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effect of warming needle moxibustion of Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30), etc. on lumbago and other symptoms of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients and changes of plasma β-endorphin (β-EP) content.

METHODS

A total of 60 LDH patients were equally randomized into warming needle moxibustion group and conventional acupuncture group. Patients of the conventional acupuncture group were treated by puncturing lumbar Jiaji (EX-B 2), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40), and Yanglingquan (GB 34) with filiform acupuncture needles. Patients of the warming needle moxibustion group were treated by puncturing the same 4 acupoints, and with the acupuncture needle in lumbar EX-B 2 attached an ignited moxa-stick segment. The treatment in both groups lasted for 30 min every time, once every other day for 15 times, with 5 times being a therapeutic course and two days' rest between every two courses. The therapeutic effect was evaluated according to the "Criteria for Evaluating the Therapeutic Effect of Disorders of Traditional Chinese Medicine". The lumbago severity was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the lumbar functional activity assessed using modified Oswestry dysfunction (in objects-lifting, sitting, standing, walking, sleeping, pain, activity of daily living, social activity, outing, etc.) index (ODI). The plasma β-EP content was assayed using ELISA.

RESULTS

After the treatment, of the two 30 cases in the conventional acupuncture and warming needle moxibustion groups, 8 (26.67%) and 12 (40.00%) were under control, 8 (26.67%) and 10 (33.33%) had a marked improvement, 3 (10.00%) and 4 (13.33%) were effective, and 11 (36.66%) and 4 (13.33%) ineffective, with the effective rates being 63.34% and 86.66%, respectively. The effective rate of the warming needle moxibustion was significantly higher than that of the conventional acupuncture (P<0.05). The VAS scores and ODI values of the two groups were gradually decreased along with the prolongation of treatment, and significantly lower in the warming needle moxibustion group than in the acupuncture group at the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd course of treatment (P<0.01). The levels of plasma β-EP were gradually increased in the two groups at the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd course of treatment, and were obviously higher in the warming needle moxibustion group than in the conventional acupuncture group at each of the 3 courses (P<0.01). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Warming needle moxibustion has a better therapeutic effect in relieving lumbago and lumbar dysfunction, and can up-regulate blood β-EP level.

[Treatment of Simple Obesity Patients with Phlegm Dampness Stagnation Syndrome with Warming Needle Moxibustion]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the therapeutic effect of warming needle moxibustion stimulation of Hegu (LI 4), Tianshu (ST 25), Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. for simple obesity patients with phlegm dampness stagnation syndrome (PDSS)．.

METHODS

A total of 60 simple obesity patients with PDSS were equally randomized into control group (13 men and 17 women, 18－53 years in age) and treatment group (14 men and 16 women, 19－45 years in age). All the patients of both groups were treated by diet control (trying their best to reduce high fat, high glucose and high salt foods, supplementing proteins). Patients of the treatment group received additional treatment of warming needle moxibustion, i．e., the inserted acupuncture needles in bilateral Hegu (LI 4), Tianshu (ST 25), Zhongwan (CV 12), and Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), etc., were manipulated for a while with reducing technique after "deqi"， followed by attachment of ignited moxa-cones at each of the needle handles for 30 min. The treatment was conducted once every other day for 8 weeks. The therapeutic effect was assessed according to the "Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Simple Obesity" (1998). Before and after the treatment, body fat percentage (F%), body adiposity index (BAI), and body mass index (BMI) were calculated, serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (CHO), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected using a biochemical analyzer.

RESULTS

Following the treatment, of the two 30 cases of obesity patients in the control and treatment groups, 0 (0.0%) and 1 (3.3%) was under control, 11(36.7%) and 16 (53.3%) had a marked improvement, 8(26.7%) and 10 (33.3%) were effective, and 11 (36.7%) and 3 (10.0%) failed in the treatment, with the effective rates being 63.3% and 90.0%, respectively. The effective rate of the warming needle moxibustion plus diet control was significantly superior to that of the simple diet control (P<0.01). After the treatment, the BMI, F%, serum CHO and TG levels and BAI in the treatment group were significantly decreased in comparison with its own pre-treatment in treatment group (P<0.05, P<0.01), while serum HDL-C of the treatment group was obviously increased compared with its own pre-treatment (P<0.01). The decreased F%, CHO and TG levels were markedly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05，P<0.01)．.

CONCLUSION

Warming needle moxibustion has a positive effect for simple obesity patients with PDSS in controlling their symptoms.