This article summarizes the commonly-used acupuncture and moxibustion therapies, such as acupuncture therapy, moxibustion therapy, auriculo-acupuncture therapy,acupoint-injection therapy, electro-acupuncture therapy, acupoint-application therapy and the comprehensive therapy, in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, and explores the possible mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating diabetes mellitus from the influence of acupuncture and moxibustion on levels of the blood sugar level, insulin, blood lipid, blood rheology, anti-peroxide, the contents of cAMP and cGMP, and the activity of Na+ -K+/ATPase.

In this series, 24 cases of ulcerative colitis and 23 cases of chronic colitis were treated with drug partition -moxibustion with total effective rates of 95. 83% and 95. 55% respectively, markedly excelled that of control group treated with western medicine. Comparison made on the results of the 15 cases of ulcerative colitis before and after treatment showed that drug partition - moxibustion inhibits humoral immunity and strengthens cellular immunity. It is suggested that the mechanism might lie on the adjustment on the abnormal ratio between T - lymphocytes subgroups, hence the self - immune state in the patient can be checked and the mucosal lesion in the intestine corrected.

Jiujing Tu (Illustration of Moxibustion), excavated from Mo Kao Grotto at Dunhuang, is one of the earliest existing monographs on moxibustion. The medical masters from different schools have focused on this book because it is different from the existing ancient medical works and have not been collected in the medical works of different dynasties. In this study, the literature of Jiujing Tu on five acupoints (Dachangshu, Pangguangshu, Daxiaochangshu, Nieshu and Cigong) relevant with intestinal disorders is collected. It is intended to discuss and analyze the acupoint location, main intestinal disorder, moxibustion characters, recognition on the literature of different dynasties and modern clinical applications. It is believed that the thought of strong moxibustion in the treatment of intestinal disorders advocated in Jiujing Tu has profound impact on the medical development in later generations. It deserves us to have a further digging, collection and promotion of this thought in the modern time.
Acupuncture Points ; Books, Illustrated ; history ; China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; history

Objective: The present study is to investigate the mechanism of electro-acupuncture in preventing and treating lumbar intervertebral disk displacement. Methods: Seventy-five Sprauge-Dawley rats were used to establish the models of lumbar intervertebral disk displacement by operation, and divided into five groups including electro-acupuncture group, western medicine group, acupuncture plus medicine group, model group and normal control group, then they were treated with corresponding therapeutic method. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in the lumbar intervertebral disk tissues of rats was detected by RT-PCR. Results: The expression of iNOS mRNA in the lumbar intervertebral disk tissues of rats in model group was compared with that in normal control group, the significant difference was found (P<0.01); While the expressions of iNOS mRNA in the lumbar intervertebral disk tissues of rats in electro-acupuncture group, western drug group and acupuncture plus medicine group were all inhibited, and compared with the model group, the significant differences were also found (P<0.01). Conclusion: Electro-acupuncture could inhibit the expression of iNOS mRNA in the lumbar intervertebral disk tissue.

Objective To explore the mechanisms of Artemisia argyi burning and moxibustion photo-thermal effect.Methods N-alkanes were obtained by gradient solvent extraction and silica gel column chromatography elution from 1, 3 and 5 years’ Artemisia argyi produced in QiChun, Hubei and analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Results The n-alkane contents of 1, 3 and 5 years’ Artemisia argyi were 318.65, 528.23 and 394.20μg/g, respectively. A total of seventeen kinds of n-alkanes were detected from the Artemisia argyi of three kinds of years. The 31 carbon alkane content was highest in all of them. Because N-alkanes affect the temperature and stability of Artemisia argyi burning, it may be the material basis for explaining “worrying seven years’ diseases seek 3 years’ Artemisia argyi”.

Recurrent low back pain and reflex sciatica of lower limbs are the two leading symptoms of prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc, which can be confirmed in the history, symptoms, signs and imaging examination such as CT scan and MRI. It should be differentiated from those conditions characterized by lumbago and/or possible sciatica. Tuina was performed mostly on the Bladder Meridian,Gallbladder Meridian and Governor Vessel, as well as their acupoints such as Jiaji (Ex-B 2) points,Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Huantiao (GB 30), Weizhong (BL 40),Chengshan (BL 57), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Ashi points. Thumb-massaging manipulation, rolling manipulation, pulling manipulation, pressing manipulation, kneading manipulation and grasping manipulation are often performed.

Objective: To observe the changes of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in colonic membrane of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) and the clinical efficacy of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in treating it, and to explore the action mechanisms. Methods: Seventy-three subjects were randomized into two groups: moxibustion group in which 37 cases were treated by herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion and needling group in which 36 cases were treated by needling. The clinical efficacy and 5-HT expression in colonic membrane were observed. Results: The cure rate was 43.2% in the moxibustion group and 36.1% in the needling group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion could reduce 5-HT expression in colonic membrane. Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion might improve the clinical symptoms of IBS-D by reducing 5-HT expression.

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and suppressor of cytokine signaling-2 (SOCS2) in colonic mucosa of rat models of ulcerative colitis (UC), and explore the mechanism of acupuncture- moxibustion therapy in treating UC. Methods: The rats were randomized into a normal control (NC) group, a model control (MC) group, an herb-partitioned moxibustion (HPM) group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 8 in each group. The rat models of UC were established by immunological methods combined with local stimulation. The rats in the HPM and EA groups were given herb-partitioned moxibustion and electroacupuncture treatments respectively, once every day, lasting for 14 d. The morphological variations of rat's colonic mucosa were observed under light microscope; the colonic mucosal mucin was detected by PAS-AB and HID-AB staining methods; the expression of IGF-1 and SOCS2 was assayed by the immunohistochemical method. Results: In the rat models of UC, ulceration and inflammation of the colon were revealed by light microscope. The concentration of colonic mucosal mucin was reduced (P<0.01), while the expression of IGF-1 had an increase (P<0.01), and the expression of SOCS2 was reduced (P<0.01). After HPM or EA treatment, the pathological injuries of colonic mucosa had improved, the concentration of mucin increased (P<0.01), the expression of IGF-1 decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of SOCS2 increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: The secretion of mucosal mucin in rat UC decreased, the expression of IGF-1 was significantly higher, while the expression of SOCS2 was remarkably lower; both HPM and EA can help improve the damage of colonic mucosa in rat UC, and modulate the secretion of mucin, as well as regulate the expression of IGF-1 and SOCS2 in the colonic mucosa.

By computer research, the literature of clinical and experimental studies on moxibustion therapy for chronic gastritis in the recent fifteen years was collected, sorted and analyzed, in order to understand the general situation about the clinical and experimental studies on moxibustion therapy for chronic gastritis, summarize the regularity of moxibustion therapy for chronic gastritis, so as to guide the treatment of chronic gastritis.