In order to clarify the morphological changes in the producing stage of moxa and the differences in the quality of various commodity moxa, we observed samples of each producing stage and several kinds of commodity moxa by the naked eye, scanning and transmission electron microscope.
We confirmed that moxa consisted of T-form hair taken from a mixture of leaf stems and leaves obtained from shredded and ground Altemisia leaves. However, no significant changes were observed in the T-form hair itself since the stem of the T-form and short T-form hair were removed.
Concerning differences in the quality of commodity moxa, differences in the extraneous matter on the hair surface, uniformity of thickness of hair, flatness, crookedness, size of each wad of hair and smoothness of hair surface were observed in addition to the traditional color, impurity, texture, smell and etc.

As a part of the study of Moxibusion, we have examind the leaves of Altemisia vulgaris L. var. indica Maxim (Altemisia) to clarify the structure of one by macroscopic, scanning electron microscopic and transmission electron microscopic observation.
We obtained results as follows;
First, when the structure of Altemisia grown in the sunlight was compared with one grown in the shade, the leaves of the former containd much hairs than one of the latter on both young and matured ones.
Second, the hairs of young leaves were dense, thick and short and the cross section of one showed round shape. On the other hand, in the hairs of matured leaves, their cross section were flat.
Third, as a result of comparison with Altemisia and Gnaphalium multiceps Wall (Gnaphalium), the former had some kinds of glandular hairs and head-form hair except T-form hair, although, the latter had only one kind of head-form hair except woolly hair.

In order to clarify the functional mechanism of the therapeutic effects of moxibustion, we have examined the influences exerted on the organism's defense system, especially the phagocytosis of the reticuloendothelial syntem in normal mice using the carbon clearance method.
Male ddY and ICR mice were used as experimental animals. The experiment was begun when the animals were 5 weeks old. The moxibustion methods involved 3 cones of 15mg or 5mg moxa at right and left LV-14.
We obtained results as follow; the global phagocytic index, K index and the corrected phagocytic index, α index, were increased 3hr after 5mg of moxa/animal treatment and K index increased 3hr and 24hr after 15mg of moxa/animal one in ddY mice.
On the other hand, in ICR mice, 15mg of moxa/animal treatment showed increase in α index after 3hr and increase in both K and α indexs after 120hr.
From the above, it is suggested that the moxibustion stimulation induced the enhancement of the phagocytic activity in normal mice.