Effects of moxibustion on liver injury induced by CCl₄ and ethionine in mice were investigated in the reticuloendothelial system. The phagocytic activity was determined by the carbon clearance method and the activity of lysosomal enzyme (acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase) in peritoneal exudate cells was measured.
Male ddY and ICR mice (5 weeks old) were used as experimental animals.
Liver injury was produced by the administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in a dose of 0.04ml/body in olive oil, p. o., or single administration of ethionine in a dose 1g/kg, i. p.
15mg of moxa was divided into 6 cones and they were treated by each 3 cones on right and left LV-14.
We obtained the following results. After 15 times administration of CCl₄ (3 times a week), the rise of serum transaminase (GOT, GPT), the decrease of K index and α index which meant phagocytic activity and the increase in liver/body (L/B) and spleen/body (S/B) weight ratio were recognized. For CCl₄ induced liver injury, α index and S/B weight ratio were improved by 10 times moxibustion (2 times a week). After 15 times moxibustion (3 times a week), the tendency to increase in K index and to decrease of α index was seen and, at the same time, an increase in L/B weight ratio was seen.
On the other hand, an increase in K index was induced after single administration of ethionine and simultaneous single moxibustion showed the tendency to decrease of K index.
It was suggested that moxibustion play an important role to regulate the mechanism of reticuloendothelial system on CCl₄ or ethionine induced liver injury.

[Objective] To examine the effect of press tack needle (PTN) treatment on muscle soreness after triathlon race in a placebo (P) -controlled study.
[Method] Subjects were 149 healthy triathletes randomly divided into 2 groups, PTN group and P group. PTN and P were placed on the L 3 to S 2 dermatome area (BL23, BL24, BL25, BL26 and BL32) only during the race. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to measure muscle soreness at 6 points (Quads, Hamstrings, Calves, Tibialis anteriors, Glutes and lower back). Measurements were obtained before the race (PRE), after the race (POST1), and on the day after the race (POST2) to evaluate the effect of PTN treatment.
[Results] Each VAS score was increased on POST1 compared to that on PRE (p<0.01) for both groups. With PTN treatment, VAS scores were decreased on POST2 compared to those on POST1 except for Glutes (p<0.01, p<0.05), and had recovered to the PRE-race condition. In the P group, VAS score of the hamstrings was decreased on POST2 compared to that on POST1, while VAS scores were significantly higher than those on PRE for Quad, Hamstrings, and Calves.
[Conclusion] It is suggested that PTN stimulation during triathlon race suppresses delayed-onset muscle sore-ness.

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.

In our previous studies, blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activity after single moxibustion were found to change within the range of physiological variability in mice. In this paper, the effect of multiple moxibustion on the activity of blood coagulation was examined by using male ddY mice (6 weeks old). 15mg of moxa was divided into 6 cones and mice were treated by each 3 cones at right and left LV-14. The multiple moxibustion schedule was a total of 5, 10 and 15 treatments. There was no effect of multiple moxibustion on body weight and Ht. 5 treatments of moxibustion showed a significant decrease in PT (p<0.05) and 10 treatments showed an increase in the ma value of TEG and in HPT activity. No significant change in PTT nor ATIII activity was found following multiple treatments of moxibustion.
These results showed that the enhancement of blood coagulation did not continue during multiple moxibustion even though single moxibustion stimulated the activity of blood coagulation at 1 and 3hrs. In addition, the increase in HPT activity induced by 10 treatments of moxibustion may have shown an effect of mildly stimulating liver function.

In our previous studies, it was suggested that the single moxibustion stimulation induced the enhancement of the phagocytic activity in mice. In order to examine the cause of the effect of moxibustion, we have examined the activities of two lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase: acid-P and β-glucuronidase: β-Gl) in the peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and peritoneal macrophage (Mp), and the morphological change of these cells by the Giemsa stain after single moxibustion.
Male ddY and ICR mouse (5-6 weeks old) were used as experimental animals. 15mg of moxa was divided into 6 cones and they were treated by each 3 cones at right and left LV-14.
As a result, an increase of acid-P activity in PEC of ddY mouse was found at 3 and 24hr after single moxibustion.
On the other hand, acid-P activity of PEC was decreased at 3hr, in spite of increase in numbers of PEC in ICR mouse.
These values did not change at 120hr after single moxibustion in ICR mice. But β-Gl activity in the peritoneal Mp was increased 120hr after single moxibustion.
Morphologically, there were a little enlarged and more mild spreading cells in peritoneal Mps from ICR mice 120hr after moxibustion than ones in untreated mice.
That is, lysosomal enzyme activities in PEC and peritoneal Mp increased when phagocytic indexes were higher by moxibustion stimulation in mice.
These results suggest that one of the cause of the enhancement of phagocytic activity in reticuloendothelial system after single moxibustion was the increase of lysosomal enzyme activities in the phagocytic cells.

Effect of multiple moxibustion on the phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system in the normal mice has been studied by using the carbon clearance methods. Simultaneously, effect of multiple one on the lysosomal enzyme activities (acid phosphatase: acid-P and β-glucuronidase: β-GL) of the periotoneal exudate cells (PEC) and the peritoneal macrophage (Mp) has been examined. And the morphology of PEC and peritoneal Mp has been also observed by the Giemsa stain and NBT reaction with lightmicroscopy.
Male ddY and ICR mice (5 weeks old) were used as experimental animals. 15mg of moxa was divided into 6 cones and they were treated by each 3 cones at right and left LV-14. The experimental schedules of multiple moxibustion were 5 times of treatment of every other day, 15 times one of every other day and 15 times one of twice a week.
In 5 times moxibustion of every other day, the mild increase of phagocytic activity in ddY mice, the decrease in number of the peritoneal Mps and the mild increase of lysosomal enzyme activity of PEC and peritoneal Mps in ICR mice were showed. In 15 times moxibustion of every other day, the increase of lysosomal enzyme activity of PEC was recognized without the one of the phagocytic activity in ICR mice. In 15 times moxibustion of twice a week, K index (phagocytic index), β-GL activity of PEC and acid-P activity of peritoneal Mp were significantly increased in ddY mice. And the mild increase of β-GL activity in PEC, the decrease in number of peritoneal Mp and the mild increase of lysosomal enzyme activity in peritoneal Mp were recognized.
There were no difference of cell kinds, cell morphology in PEC and the peritoneal Mp between the untreated and multiple moxibustion treated mice.
These results indicate that the multiple moxibustion does not always induce the enhancement of the phagocytic activity because of the general adaptation syndromes. However, the effect of the multiple one on the lysosomal enzyme activity suggests that these treatment induces the intrisic enhancement of the activity in host defense system.

The establishment of experimental peripheral neuropathy and effect of moxibustion on it have been studied using male S. D. rats. To determine the condition of experimental peripheral neuropathy, rats were fed on the solution of acrylamide in the concentration of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500p.p.m. The body weight decreased dependently on its concentration and the behavior in rats was also detriorated. Especially, ataxia, hindlimb weakness and muscle wasting in rats were remarkably observed.
The effect of moxibustion has been studied on the rats which fed on the 400p.p.m. acrylamide solution. The method of moxibustion is followes; 25mg of moxa was divided into 10 cones and they were treated by each 5 cones on right and left B-18, B-25 and G-34, respectively. The treatment of moxibustion was 6 times in 3 ones a week for 13 days.
As a results, after 12-13 days, moxibustion treated rats showed to improve the deterioration of behavior and muscle wasting induced by acrylamide. Especially, B-25 treated rats showed the improvement of weight in anterior tibial, gastrocnemius and soleus muscle. On the other hand, steadiness on slope was decreased by acrylamide feeding and decrease of the steadiness was not improved by the treatment of moxibustion.
It is suggested that the sutable stimulation of moxibustion improved the deterioration of behavior and muscle waste on the acrylamide induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.

Morphological changes of sciatic and tivial nerves have been observed microscopically and cholinesterase activities of anterior tibial, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles have been examined by the biochemical determination and histochemical method. 25mg of moxa/body (3 times a week, x6) were treated on the acupuncture point, B-18, B-25 and G-34 in acrylamide neuropathy rats.
After 400p.p.m. acrylamide treatment, the degeneration of peripheral nerves with myelin ovoids and foldes, and shrunken myelinated axons were observed. These lesions were advanced in the tibial nerve than in the sciatic nerve. In B-25 and B-18 moxibustion rats, good results were obtained to decrease myelin degeneration in peripheral nerves, but the lesions were advanced in G-34 rats than in acrylamide ones.
In the acrylamide rats, no change of muscle cholinesterase activity was found except the increase in the enzyme activity in the homogenate of anterior tibial muscle. In the gastrocnemius muscle of moxibustion treated rats, the microsomal fraction which contained much more sarcoplasmic reticulum showed high cholinesterse activity. And the activity per muscle protein showed various changes.
It showed that the stimulation of moxibustion had a mild effect to recover the experimental peripheral neuropathy induced by 400p.p.m. acrylamide because of morphological changes of sciatic and tibial nerves and weight of skeletal muscles.

[Objective]To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the control of lower back pain of sailors that participated in the National Sports Festival of Japan to assess whether or not acupuncture can be used as a pre and post race treatment.
[Methods]The study was conducted at the National Sports Festival of Japan sailing games. The focus was on sailor's complaints of lower back pain. Acupuncture treatment for lower back pain was executed pre and/or post race, and the respective therapeutic effect was evaluated. Acupuncture was executed by several techniques and on several points of the lower back.
The depth of insertion was the most critical criteria and must be shallow. The insertion depth of the study was approximately 5 mm.
Acupuncture points were chosen by the therapist. The insertion point was selected based on characteristics such as tenderness and induration of tissue. As needed, the dermis was stimulated continuously utilizing the acupuncture needle. The effect of acupuncture treatment was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
[Results]Lower back pain in sailors was alleviated by acupuncture and decreased by a VAS value (p < 0.01). The result was the same in pre and/or post race patients. Organic disease was confirmed in 19.0%of the patients. Both lumbar disc herniation and isthmic spondylolisthesis were diagnosed. There were no adverse events.
[Conclusion]Acupuncture was an effective treatment method and as such can be used as a method of treatment of sailors at pre or post race. However, to attain the maximum efficacy, the depth of the needle insertion must be shallow.

In our previous studies, it was suggested that single moxibustion stimulation activated blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activities within normal range in mice at 1 and 3hrs.
In order to further investigate the mechanism of moxibustion, we have examined the antithrombin III (AT III) and fibrinolytic activities after single moxibustion.
Male ddy mice (6 weeks old) were used as experimental animals. Each mouse was treated with 15mg of moxa divided into 6 cones, 3 each on the right and left LV-14.
We obtained the following results. The plasminogen (PLG) activities and the values of plasma total protein decreased at 1hr after single moxibustion.
The activities of plasma AT III, α2 plasmin inhibitor (α2 PI) and factor XIII, and plasma fibrinogen level remained unchanged at 1 and 3hrs.
The blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activities changed, but they were almost within the range of physiological variability.
These results suggest that blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were activated as part of its defence mechanism while keeping homeostatic balance.