OBJECTIVETo observe results of medicine-separated moxibustion combined with healthy guidance for improving human sub-healthy state and to probe the mechanism.

METHODSFifty-two sub-healthy persons from community were selected with health valuation method of traditional Chinese medicine and were treated with healthy guidance and medicine-separated moxibustion at selected points according to causes of disease, syndrome, clinical manifestations. At the same time, changes of clinical physical and chemical indexes and clinical symptoms before and after treatment were monitored.

RESULTSAfter treatment, clinical symptoms and natural killer cells (NK) activity significantly increased (P<0.05); complement C3 and C4 levels significantly decreased and IgG level significantly increased (both P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMedicine-separated moxibustion combined with healthy guidance direction can regulate functions of zang- and fu-organs and elevate immunity in the people of sub-healthy state, so as to improve sub-healthy state and increase quality of life.