[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”.

We investigated the actual condition of patients treated by acupuncture and moxibution in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Subjects were 1823 patients (846 men, 977 women) under the treatment of 14 acupunctue clinics in September to November, 1985.
We prepared the evaluated list that consisted of 11 levels of activities of daily life and 8 degrees of pain.
In every treatment, we wrote down the patients' clinical progress in relation with the list.
The information on the patients undergoing treatment in acupuncture was compared with the date of the National Health Survey, 1984 on patients with bone and muscle diseases.
The following results were obtained.
1. Most of the acupuncture patients were in the mid 30s to the mid 60s, and their age was lower than the patients under National Health Survey.
2. There were more acupuncture patients who received only one treatment compared with the National Health Survey treatment.
3. The chief complaints of acupuncture patients were low back pains (509 patients), shoulder discomfort (273), knee joint pain (132), etc.
4. Most of the acupuncture patients could go with their daily lives in spite of the pains.
5. The effects of acupuncture treatment were rated as follows: better 69.5%, no change 23.9%, worse 5.9%

The effect of acupuncture stimulation on human cardiac functions was studied by radionuclide ventriculography (RV). Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were continuously observed in nine healthy men (from 20 to 38 years old; average 26.6±5.8 years old) using a polygraph system (RM-6000, Nihon Kohden Co., Ltd.). Indocyanine green and radioactive isotope (^99mTcO₄) were simultaneously injected into these subjects from the cubital vein while they were in a supine position. Images were then acquired and cardiac output (CO) was measured. Before and during the acupuncture stimulation, RV data in synchronization with the R wave of the electrocardiogram were collected within a short time and cardiac functions were measured by data processing with a computer connected to a gamma camera (ZLC-7500, Siemens Co., Ltd.). Acupuncture stimulation using a stainless steel needle was applied by the tapping method to the right Ximén Point (the center of the anterior surface of the forearm).
All nine subjects showed a decrease (65.3±7.1% v. s. 57.5±4.8%, P<0.001) in left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and diffused reduction of the left cardiac wall motion during acupuncture stimulation, suggesting cardiac hypofunction during the stimulation.

Therapeutic effects of two methods (1) an acupuncture technique using superficial needling applied during exhalation in the sitting position and (2) a low output laser irradiation technique applied during exhalation in the sitting position, were studied using an indicator represented by the distance between the finger tip and floor obtained when a subject bends forward from the standing position.
1. The acupuncture technique using superficial needling applied during exhalation in the sitting position significantly improved the distance between the finger tip and floor as compared with that before application (p<0.05).
2. The low output laser irradiation technique applied during exhalation in the sitting position improved the distance between the finger tip and floor as compared with that before application (p<0.01). No significant difference in the distance between the finger tip and floor were observed in the non-irradiated group.
3. Considering the therapeutic effects from application at various regions of the body, the acupuncture technique improved the distance between the finer tip and floor when it was applied to Waiguan (TE5) (p<0.05) and Zusanli (S36) (p<0.02)

To clarify the effects of Silver Spike Point (SSP) therapy on the autonomic nervous function, we evaluated changes in the peripheral circulatory function by second derivative photoplethysmogram (SDPTG) on 22 workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. We also examined the responses of the autonomic nervous function using the coefficient of variation of R-R interval (CV_R-R), total number of white blood cells (WBC), and the ratio of granulocyte (GC) and lymphocyte (LC) as indexes.
As a result, we observed improved peripheral circulation due to the SSP therapy, in which the average pulse rare (PR) tended to decrease, CV_R-R was not significantly changed by the therapy, and WBC and LC were significantly decreased by the therapy.
The 22 subjects were divided into two groups (low-value group, 8 subjects; high-value group, 14 subjects) according to the data of CV_R-R revised using Fujimoto's method. In the low-value group, PR tended to decrease, and SDPTG-index and c/a tended to increase. In the high-value group, on the other hand, CVR-R and LC tended to decrease and WBC significantly increased.
In conclusion, SSP therapy enhanced the parasympathetic nervous function and improved the peripheral circulatory function in the parasympathetic-nervous-function-impaired the group (low-value group). Furthermore, it suppressed the parasympathetic nervous function without affecting the peripheral circulatory function in the parasympathetic-nervous-function-enhanced group (high-value group).

[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.