OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical therapeutic effects of the regulation of subhealthy condition between the mild moxibustion on alternate days and Chinese herbal medicine.

METHODSSeventy-two participants of subhealthy condition were assigned into a mild moxibustion group (36 cases) and a medication group (36 cases) according to random number table. In the mild moxibustion group, the intervention of mild moxibustion with moxa stick was applied to Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), once every other day. In the medication group,granules were prescribed for oral administration, three times a day. The treatment was continued for 2 months. Before and after treatment, the levels of IgA, IgM and IgG, SOD (superoxide dismutase), the total score of fatigue scale 14 (FS-14) and the score of nailfold microcirculation were observed separately.

RESULTSCompared with the results before treatment, the immune indices, the total score of FS-14 and the scores of nailfold microcirculation were all improved after treatment in the two groups, indicating the significant differences (<0.05,<0.01). In comparison between the two groups after treatment, the levels of immune globulin, e.g. IgM, IgG and SOD in the mild moxibustion group were higher in tendency than those in the medication group, but without significant differences (all>0.05). The total score of FS-14 after treatment in the mild moxibustion group was lower than that in the medication group (<0.05). After treatment, in the mild moxibustion group, for the nailfold microcirculation, the flow state score, the periloop score and the total score were all reduced more apparently as compared with those in the medication group (<0.01,<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMild moxibustion with moxa stick on alternate days apparently relieves fatigue state, immune dysfunction and microcirculatory impairment in the subhealthy group. The results are apparently superior to the treatment withgranules.