Literature investigation and expert consultation were adopted to construct the theoretical framework and item pool of
Moxibustion ; Thermosensing

The basic structure and application manipulations of the multi-function moxibustion couch are introduced in this article. The designation of the couch is reasonable and its structure is simple. With easy manipulations and simple application, fumigation and moxibustion therapy is fulfilled by the moxa roll ignited under the couch. It has the characteristics of heat and medicine concentrating with strong penetration and extensive application area. And it can be applied especially on pain of the neck, shoulder, low back and leg, diseases of stomach and intestines, complicated gynaecological diseases as well as on health keeping.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; methods

For an establishment of application standard of moxibustion, this review was undertaken to consider the current methodologies of moxibustion therapy. Research articles appearing in 3 web-based databases were selected using 9 key words; moxibustion (Korean words; gubeob, guyobeob, tteum, tteumyobeop, ssugtteum, guchiryo), moxa cone, direct moxa, and indirect moxa. In vivo or in vitro studies were grouped and the types, sizes and numbers of moxa cones employed in those studies were abstracted and compared. Total 109 articles reviewed here included 56 clinical studies, 39 animal studies and 14 in vitro studies concerning combustion of moxa. For clinical studies, indirect moxa are mostly employed (33/56), whereas direct moxa for animal studies (34/39). Moxa cone size appeared highly variable, ranging from 0.05 to 50 mg in rice-sized moxa (miripdae) and numbers of moxa cone used in a single treatment varied between 1 and 9. Moreover, there was no correlation between the moxa cone size and the number of moxa cones per treatment. Moxibustion therapy is being increasingly used but is under the neglect of the proper type (direct or indirect), size and numbers of moxa cones. Standard protocol thus needs to be established for an evaluation of therapeutic potential and further clinical application of moxibustion.
Animals ; Korea ; Moxibustion

There are connotations on regulating deficiency and excess by acupuncture reinforcing and reducing in (), including regulating and , regulating blood and , regulating weakened body resistance and state of evil domination, regulating the deficiency and excess of syndrome. The deficiency and excess usually mean the objects received reinforcing and reducing, such as tangible blood stasis, pus, water, etc, and invisible . The deficiency and excess had always mean the symptoms of diseases since (), and the reinforcing and reducing of acupuncture was regulating . Therefore the connotations of reinforcing and reducing of acupuncture changed and there were complex acupuncture reinforcing and reducing manipulations. The various deficiency and excess connotations and stressing on acupuncture regulating made important changes for the theories and methods of acupuncture reinforcing and reducing which showed the profound impacts of the philosophical thought of monism in ancient China on acupuncture and moxibustion science.
Acupuncture ; China ; Humans ; Moxibustion

This paper focused on "treating spirit" in acupuncture based on the problems and needs in the diagnosis and treatment of difficult diseases, and discussed the diagnosis and treatment of difficult diseases with five-element acupuncture from six aspects: ① integration of soma and spirit in TCM, give top priority to "treating spirit" in acupuncture treatment; ②inadequate understanding of "treating spirit" in conventional acupuncture clinic; ③five-pattern personality and "treating spirit" with acupuncture; ④ five-element acupuncture and holism of correspondence between man and universe; ⑤searching for the primary cause of disease in treatment and motivating self-healing power by five-element acupuncture; ⑥advantages and methods of five-element acupuncture in "treating spirit". It shows that five-element acupuncture can be used to inspire new ideas of diagnosis and treatment of difficult diseases in acupuncture clinic.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Moxibustion

Based on the traditional theory in (), the acupuncture effects of non-acupoints on the body surface were explored. There are the effects of the non-acupoints on meridians, the effects of five tissues (local effects, resonance effects, five- effects and particular effects) and regional effects (nearby effects, structural corresponding effects, holistic effects and the special effects on the specific regions), etc. The innovative recognitions are proposed. ① Stimulating the non-acupoint sites on the body surface generates definite effects, not limited to the local nearby effects. For example, the resonance effects and five- effects are generated by stimulating five tissues. The counter-acting force presents between five tissues and five- organs. ② The regional effects are rich in content and its mechanisms on the induction, coordination and correspondence are not in reference to , meridian and collateral, but are related to the characteristics of activity of the regional body itself. ③ Acupuncture presents not only the effects of the abstract meridian-collateral and the acupoints, but also the effects of concrete five tissues and regions. Acupuncture therapeutic effects may result from the cumulative effects, especially related to the stimulation of the strength by the needle tip. ④ Regarding the differences in the effects between the meridian points and non-acupoint stimulation, the former attaches the importance on " ", which is abstract and dynamic and the later on "shape", which is concrete and static.
Acupuncture Points ; Meridians ; Moxibustion

As a work of modern acupuncture and moxibustion, the discusses various key issues in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion, such as the existing problems of acupuncture and moxibustion, the deconstruction of traditional acupuncture and moxibustion, the cultural problems of acupuncture and moxibustion, the construction of modern acupuncture and moxibustion system, the significance of western acupuncture and moxibustion, the value of 's acupuncture and moxibustion, the problems of systematic acupuncture and moxibustion, which has showed inclusivity and innovation of modern acupuncture and moxibustion.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Medicine ; Moxibustion

To explore the evaluation method of evidence body for acupuncture and moxibustion clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), and to provide methodological support for the development of acupuncture and moxibustion CPGs and to promote the establishment and application of acupuncture and moxibustion standard. Based on the academic characteristics of TCM acupuncture, the stratified evidence evaluation method was proposed. Firstly, evidences were collected from the ancient literature, modern literature and clinical experience, and were scientifically distinguished and evaluated. Secondly, all the evidences were integrated as body of evidence by analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Lastly, based on the general index (GI), the clinical recommendations for acupuncture were proposed. Based on the stratified evidence evaluation method, acupuncture and moxibustion CPGs were developed in a more scientific and objectiveway with the comprehensive and sufficient evidences.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Moxibustion

A new type of multi-acupoints moxibustion instrument was developed to effectively solve the issue of simultaneously performing moxibustion at multiple acupoints. The moxibustion instrument consisted of a bracket and a moxibustion cartridge mounted on the bracket. The upper end of the bracket was equipped with gooseneck tubes. The free end of the gooseneck tubes was equipped with moxibustion cartridge used for moxibustion. The moxibustion cartridge consisted of the cartridge body, the moxa needle and the ash net. This current instrument with novel and unique structure was simple and reasonable, safe and reliable, and had the advantages of convenient operation, time and labor saving, and high moxibustion efficiency, and was an innovation of moxibustion instrument.
Acupuncture Points ; Moxibustion ; Needles

OBJECTIVEMoxibustion is an important traditional Chinese medicine therapy using heat from ignited moxa floss for disease treatment. The purpose of the present study is to establish a reproducible method to assess the color of moxa floss, discriminate the samples based on chromatic coordinates and explore the relationship between chromatic coordinates and total flavonoid content (TFC).

METHODSMoxa floss samples of different storage years and production ratios were obtained from a moxa production factory in Henan Province, China. Chromatic coordinates (L*, a* and b*) were analyzed with an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and the chroma (C*) and hue angle (h°) values were calculated. TFC was determined by a colorimetric method. Data were analyzed with correlation, principal component analysis (PCA).

RESULTSSignificant differences in the chromatic values and TFC were observed among samples of different storage years and production ratios. Samples of higher production ratio displayed higher chromatic characteristics and lower TFC. Samples of longer storage years contained higher TFC. Preliminary separation of moxa floss production ratio was obtained by means of color feature maps developed using L*-a* or L*-b* as coordinates. PCA allowed the separation of the samples from their storage years and production ratios based on their chromatic characteristics and TFC.

CONCLUSIONThe use of a colorimetric technique and CIELAB coordinates coupled with chemometrics can be practical and objective for discriminating moxa floss of different storage years and production ratios. The development of color feature maps could be used as a model for classifying the color grading of moxa floss.