The purpose of this study is to observe the changes in peripheral blood flow in those subjects who perspired during and/or after stimulation by moxibustion. Observations were made on a total of ten subjects consisting of six males and four females with a mean age of 28. 1 years. The subjects were divided into two groups: subjects who perspired and those who did not. Stimulation was applied to the Ashi-sanri (St. 36 spot) of the right leg, and blood flow was measured with a Laser-Doppler blood flow meter attached near the stimulation point on the proximal side. Data were processed using statistical analysis method. Significant differences in the mean blood flow values were noted between the two groups (perspiring and non-perspiring). The non-perspiring group recorded lower values of peripheral blood flow than the perspiring group. Chi square testing of statistical analysis demonstrated a trend for subjects with more negative attitudes toward moxibustion treatment to perspire more during and/or after stimulation by moxibustion than those with a positive attitude (p<0.006). These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous system may be activated more strongly by application of moxibustion in those with negative attitudes toward moxibustion.

[Purpose] We investigated the effects of fireless moxibustion using the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36^®).
[Methods] The subjects were 27 elderly people living at home, from whom informed consent was obtained (age: 66 to 94 years). They were randomly divided into two groups using the envelope method. Eleven were in the fireless moxibustion group (FMG), and 16 were in the sham fireless moxibustion group (SFMG). For measurement, no treatment was performed for seven days (Cont.), home fireless moxibustion was performed for seven days (St.), and no treatment was performed for seven days after fireless moxibustion (Af.). During the study period, we conducted a survey using SF-36^®. Stimulation was performed every two days during the St. period (total: 4 times). The left/right BL23 and ST36 areas were stimulated. We used fireless moxibustion (Sennenkyu Taiyo(r), Senefa Co., Ltd.). Generalized linear two-way variance analysis and Fisher's (LSD) multiple comparison test were carried out. P<0.05 was regarded as significant.
[Results] There was alternative action in the bodily pain item. In a comparison of the two groups, FMG tended to show improved “bodily pain” (p<0.10) and at the Af. period “bodily pain” was reduced as compared with the Cont. period (p<0.05). FMG indicated the tendency to improve “bodily pain” in the Af. period (82.9 (3.7 points) than in the Cont. period (78.4 (4.4 points) (p<0.09). In SFMG, there was no significant change.
In Question 8, as a bodily pain factor, routine working pain, which had persisted over the past week, mitigated after 1 week of fireless moxibustion (Af.).
[Conclusion] Fireless moxibustion reduced “bodily pain”, and scores of “general health perceptions” increased, while in sham fireless moxibustion at home scores of “Role physical” decreased significantly. From the results, fireless moxibustion at home raised the health related QOL. Fireless moxibustion may be useful for “bodily pain”.

[Purpose]To investigate the present use of medical expenses for acupuncture and moxibustion, and judo and massage therapies under the health insurance system in contracted nursing care plans prepared by nursing care managers.
[Methods]The subjects were 75 nursing care service providers who were registered in a certain municipally (B City) with an aging index of 27.7%. We investigated the experience and use of medical expenses for acupuncture and moxibustion therapy through a mail survey. The survey period was from July 10 to July 31 in 2006. The collection rate was 57.3%(43out of 75 nursing care service providers). We used simple adding, the Kruskal-Wallis test, factor analysis (principal factor method) and path analysis.
[Results]In simple adding, there were 3,535 total care receivers, 11.5%of the total aged population in B City. Users who took acupuncture and moxibustion therapy were 2.5%of the total care receivers in nursing care plans. However, 10 people could not take acupuncture and moxibustion therapy due to their economic conditions. Nine out of 41 nursing care service providers (22.0%) had users who could not take acupuncture and moxibustion therapy because their healthcare facilities would not sign the written informed consent. In factor analysis (principal factor analysis), "experience and recognition of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using medical expenses"was extracted as the first principal component. In pass analysis, it can be explained that nursing care managers who planned acupuncture and moxibustion therapy using medical expenses had recognized that the therapy would maintain the capabilities for activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) of the users.
[Conclusion]When nursing care managers planned acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for maintenance of ADL and QOL in their care services using medical expenses, they were considered to have recognized that the therapy would keep the users'ADL and QOL.

The aim of this study was to examine the changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity, pulse rate, and pain intensity among older adults before and after acupuncture treatment.

To determine whether any difference exists in the skin-temperature responses of the lower limbs to hot-stone application relative to one-site and three-site abdominal application.

Objective : To determine the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy on hiesho in maturate stage females.
Design : Multicenter, randomized, prospective, open blind, waiting list-controlled trial.
Setting : A clinical center attached to three universities and one vocational school.
Participants : Twenty two females between 18-39 years of age and with a level of more than four points on the “hiesho sensation scale” proposed by Kusumi et al for hiesho. Interventions : Participants were randomly assigned to receive therapies of either acupuncture or no therapy (waiting list controls). Acupuncture therapy was provided by needle retention to SP 6 and electro-acupuncture therapy to BL 32 at a frequency of 1 Hz for 20 minutes. One session per week of this therapy was provided for a total of four sessions. Method of Measurement : The primary outcome of change in hiesho intensity was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary changes were measured by an eight heading score and three component summaries of the standard edition SF-36 v 2.
Results : The statistical analyses used an intent-to-treat analysis that included two participants who dropped out, and the mixture of one participant targeted for exclusion who was censored from the analyses. As a result, 21 participants were classified as either in the acupuncture group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 9). Efficacy with acupuncture therapy was not found for effect size (Cohen d, point-biserial correlation r) for VAS and the scores of SF-36 between the two groups.
Conclusions : Effectiveness of the acupuncture therapy was not found, which suggests that it may be due to the smaller sample size, frequency of intervention, and symptoms associated with autonomic dysfunction.

Objective
 We examined the effects of acupuncture electrotherapy in young women with hie symptoms (excessive sensitivity to cold), presented in conjunction with vasomotor dysfunction as determined by the postural change test.
Subjects and Methods
 Subjects comprised 20 women (mean age, 20.6 years; range, 18-26 years) who exhibited symptoms of hie, evaluated as toe skin temperature after standing for 5 mins or a temperature difference between the right and left toes as compared to before standing. A stainless steel acupuncture needle (length, 40 mm; diameter, 0.2 mm) was inserted approximately 15 mm in SP6 (Shangqui). Acupuncture electrotherapy connected an acupuncture electrode to SP6 and a non-feeling electrode to lateral of the tibial tuberosity, and was undertaken at a frequency of 1 Hz for 20 mins. Therapy was provided as a total of 5 sessions, with 1 session each week, and the postural change test was performed before and after therapy. Thermal images from the medial aspect of the foot to the tibial aspect of the lower leg were captured using a medical thermography device, and mean skin temperature was calculated in selected regions of the toes, metatarsals, ankle, and tibial aspect of the lower leg. Therapy was evaluated using a questionnaire with two originally designed scales: a categorical scale of 14 symptoms including hie; and degree of hie on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Subjects completed the questionnaire every day during a period from 1 week before therapy sessions began until 1 week after completion of all 5 sessions. Scores for hie symptoms were calculated as mean values from the total score of the 14 symptoms and VAS each week. Changes in health-related quality of life with acupuncture were evaluated using the SF-8 Standard Edition.
Results
 Toe skin temperature just after standing was not significantly increased by therapy as compared to before standing. Skin temperature on the tibial aspect of the lower leg 20 mins after standing was significantly increased as compared to the adaptation period. In terms of hie, VAS and SF-8, no significant changes were seen before and after therapy, but total score for the 14 symptoms decreased significantly.
Conclusions
 Acupuncture electrotherapy to SP 6 did not appear to exacerbate hie symptoms after reductions in air temperature, while normalizing the postural vascular reflex and improving hie-related symptoms.

[Objectives]We investigated the behaviour factors in Hiesho (excessive sensitivity to cold symptoms), a summary score of Health-related QOL (SF-8) and Body Mass Index (BMI) in subjects who feel Hiesho (hereinafter referred to as Hiesho Subjects), in relation to sex, and showed the future direction of acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.
[Methods]After approval by the Ethics Committee, we obtained written informed consent from the participants in this study. Participants were 753students in a vocational college. The study was performed with questionnaires, which were delivered by hand to the participants in September, 2008. We analyzed 629 subjects (538 males and 91 females, mean age of 27.4 ± 6.8) whose responses were valid. The questionnaire consisted of age, sex, height, weight, subjective Hiesho, 24 behaviour patterns of Hiesho according to a previous study, and Health-related QOL (SF-8, Japanese version). We used two summaries -physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) -which are derived from standard values (scores) in the nation on eight scales of SF-8 calculated using the special scoring software. Total scores of behaviour patterns of Hiesho subjects (HIE Scores) and summary scores and BMI in male and female subjects were statistically analyzed using covariance structure analysis technique in multiple populations (Amos Ver. 7).
[Results]In our model, the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and Root Mean Squares Error of Approximation were 1.00, 75.886 and 0.00, respectively, which showed a high degree of compatibility. We found the relations from Hiesho Scores to PCS (β=-0.175, p < 0.01) and MCS (β=-0.179, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.089, p=0.038) in male Hiesho subjects. In contrast, in female Hiesho subjects, there were relations from Hiesho scores to MCS (β=-0.601, p < 0.001) and from PCS to MCS (β=-0.244, p < 0.05).
[Discussion]From the results of our investigation, Hiesho was considered not to be associated with Health-related QOL in male Hiesho subjects but to be associated with mental factors in female Hiesho subjects.
[Conclusions]It was shown that we should consider the patient's sex in acupuncture therapy on Hiesho.