Moxibustion causes localized dermal vasodilation and increased capillary permeability, and this is expected to provide the clinical basis for the concept that Oriental medical herb therapies promote physiological activity in general. Hence, moxibustion has been carried out as one of the basic therapeutic methods in Oriental medicine. The aim of this study is to investigate the modulation effect of moxibustion on the local metabolism which was usually experienced as telangiectasia. This effect was evaluated by the hair growth rate and associated with histological findings of the hair root.
CH3/HeNCrJ mice with telogen hairs were used. The dorsal hair was shaved in an area approximately 8cm² at 6 weeks of age, and moxibustion stimulation was carried out at the center of the shaved area. The growth of the hair was examined by the hair length and the HE-stained subcutis preparation up to 11 weeks.
It was concluded that the vasodilation effect of moxibustion lasted for a fairly long period, and the number of hair follicle cells were increased by moxibustion.

Microstructure and elemental composition of dried Artemisa princeps Pamp. (Yomogi) leaves produced in Japan and China were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Trichomes and T-foem hairs were found in higher density on the reverse side of the leaf of Yomogi. Cilium hairs were observed in Japanese Yomogi, while those in Chinese Yomogi, were distributed. Concentrations of K, Ca, Si and Cl were determined in plant fibers of the trichome in both Yomogi. In the head-style hairs of Japanese Yomogi, K, Ca, and Cl, S, P, Si were found, while K, Ca, Si, S, Mg and Fe were observed in the Chinese Yomogi.
These results suggest that there were differences in morphological and elemental composition between Japanese and Chinese dried Yomogi leaves. These differences will affect the moxa quality even after the purifying process.

Topical cooling effects at the site of vibratory stimulation were studied using vibration-induced flexion reflex (VFR), which was induced simultaneously in both hands, as an indicator for assessment.
As a result, it was found that the inhibition of ipsilateral and contralateral VFR related to topical cooling of the palmar vibratory site on one side was caused by cooling within a limited area of the palm where the vibratory element contacted. Application of acupunctural electrical stimulation of disrupting nature in place of topical cooling to the vibratory stimulation site on one side also effectively inhibited VFR on both sides.
Although the skin temperature did not decrease on the side contralateral to the side that had been cooled, VFR was completely inhibited on both the cooled and uncooled sides.
These results suggest that the peripheral impulses which arise from cooling the vibratory site on one side act on spinal interneurons and alpha-motor neurons, which contribute bilaterally to the VFR expression, thus inducing a neurogenic inhibitory effect on VFR.

[Objective] Although allergic rhinitis is the most common allergic inflammatory disease, and many sufferers seek acupuncture and moxibustion treatments, the evidence that acupuncture therapy alleviates allergic rhinitis is uncertain. Symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing and nasal obstruction are cardinal signs of chronic allergic rhinitis. Through a series of individual case studies, we investigated the clinical effects of acupuncture treatment on patients with chronic allergic rhinitis.
[Method] Three patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis eachreceived 8 sessions of acupuncture treatments (two times per week for 4 weeks). Evaluations were performed during each treatment period (`period B`) and before and after each treatment period (‘period A’) (ABA design). Acupuncture treatment was performed on GV23, LI20, LI4, ST36, GB20, BL13, and BL23. The effects of the acupuncture treatments were assessed by the degree of allergic rhinitis severity, according to nasal mucosa observation, subjective nasal obstruction, and allergic rhinitis indicators in the blood (eosinophilis and non specific immunoglobulion E).
[Results] During period B, one patient showed a general improvement of allergic rhinitis severity, and all three patients showed an improvement of allergic rhinitis symptom severities, especially nasal obstruction. The improvement of severity wasconfirmed by observation of nasal mucosae and the grade of subjective nasal obstruction. But blood indicators did not show a significant change.
[Conclusion] This study indicated that acupuncture treatment was effective for alleviating allergic rhinitis symptoms, especially nasal obstruction.

Augmentation of skin flap survival remains one of the principle concerns in the field of reconstructive plastic surgery. Moxibustion was thought to have potential in this area because it is known to induce proliferation of the blood capillaries of the skin. The authors therefore investigated the effects of moxibustion on skin flap survival in rats.
Male Wistar rats of about 200g were divided into four groups: Group I was stimulated before the operation, II after the operation, III both before and after the operation and Group IV served as an unstimulated control. Ten spots were selected for five days of stimulation with moxibustion (Kamayamini) on the skin flap, however, no stimulation was given the day before or the day of the operation. The caudal skin flap (9cm×3cm) was made under pentobarbital anesthesia (intraperitoneal; 26ml/kg).
A significant increase in the survival area in Groups I and II when compared with Group IV. It was therefore concluded that stimulation with moxibustion may be a valuable method of improving skin flap survival. For clinical application, further improvements such as exclusion of scar formation may be necessary.

Objectives—We tested the effect of a clinically applicable dose of moxibustion on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) of rat, an experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods—Male Lewis rats were inoculated with Mycobacterium butyricum suspended in paraffin oil into the right hind paw to induce arthritis. Moxibustion (60°C) was applied to the right hind limb point, Tsu-san-Li (ST36), twice a week for 4 consecutive weeks. The efficacy of the above treatment was determined by the measurements of paw swelling, arthritic score. The effects of moxibustion upon immune and inflammatory responses were analyzed by enumerating peripheral blood leukocyte subsets. The data were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U-test between the experimental and control groups.
Results—Moxibustion significantly suppressed paw swelling in the systemic phase, but not in the acute phase, of arthritis. Moxibustion also significantly suppressed the increase in T lymphocyte numbers in the late acute phase and that of neutroplils in the systemic phase.
Conclusion—After the treatment with moxibustion, significant alterations were observed in the numbers of peripheral blood leukocyte subsets in AIA, along with the amelioration of clinical signs. These observations suggest that suppression of AIA with moxibustion may be mediated through the suppression of proliferating number of T-cell and acceleration of decrease in number of neutrophils in the peripheral blood.

There have been not enough information about the biological effects of moxibustion. The symposiums have been opened on the meetings of Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Many significant results of moxibustion have been discussed on these symposiums. The symposium, “Present Research on Moxibustion”, was opened on the 52nd meeting of Japan Society of acupuncture and Moxibustion in 2003. The contents on this symposium were following.
The outline of fundamental research on moxibustion was presented by Dr. Aizawa. From his report, the various researchers have tried to elucidate the mechanism of moxibustion. These have been many presentations of moxibustion at the meeting of The Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.
The histological investigation on treated area was presented by Dr. Menjo. From her report, the increase of cutaneous change was observed from the treated area after moxibustion. This result was significant on the decision of moxibustion-stimulation.
The immunological investigation on the effects of moxibustion was presented by Dr. Tohya. From his report, cytokines as IL-12 and IFN-γ was expressed by moxibustion. These results demonstrated that such effects are dependent on the chemical substances in moxa.
The effect of Onkyu was presented by Dr. Nakanishi. From his report, the transportation by Onkyu-stimulation is different from that by acupuncture-stimulation. His results demonstrated that chemical mediator by Onkyu-stimulation acts to the nervous system.
These presented results supposed the significant information and to contribute the development of moxibustion-medicine.