The study reported here was undertaken to elucidate the action mechanism of moxibustion from the point of view of the blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activities.
Single stimulations at the right and left Chimen (KIMON) of male ddY strain 6 weeks old mice were made by using 15mg of moxa divided into 6 cones. Blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activities were determined at 1, 3, 24, 48, 72 and 168 (7 days) hours after moxibustion.
The increase of maximal amplitude (ma) of thrombelastography (TEG) and the reduction of coagulation time were observed during 1 to 168 hours. The increase of ma and the reduction of reaction time (r) of TEG at 1 and 3 hours, and reduction of plasma recalcification time at 24 hours, partial thromboplastin time at 3 hours and prothrombin time at 72 hours were significant compared with the values of intact normal mice. But these values of TEG and coagulation time were all in the normal range.
On the other hand, the increase of eugloblin lysis time (ELT) were observed at 1 hour, but at 3 to 168 hours, ELT values were reduced. And these activated tendency of plasminogen activator persisted for a period of 7 days.
These results suggest that the single moxibustion stimulation to Chimen induce some effect on the activities of some plasma proteins which concern the blood coagulation-fibrinolytic system.

In our previous report on mice, we suggested that single moxibustion stimulation to CHIMEN (LV-14) activated blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activity within normal range.
The purpose of this study is to elucidate the acute effects of moxibustion on blood coagulation activity in healthy adult men 1 and 3 hours after moxibustion. A single moxibustion stimulation to the right and left CHIMEN was made using a dose of 45mg of moxa divided into 30 cones.
The results were as follows:
1) decreased clot formation time (K) of thrombelastography 1 hour after moxibustion.
2) increased activity of hepaplastintest 3 hours after moxibustion.
3) decreased maximum value of platelet aggregation 1 and 3 hours after moxibustion.
4) decreased rate of segmented leucocyte and increased rate of lymphocyte 1 hour after moxibustion.
These results suggest that single moxibustion stimulation to CHIMEN have some influence on coagulation activity (the hepatic function on hepaplastintest), platelet aggregation and percentage of white blood cells.

Shichimotsukokato is composed of shimotsuto with chotoko, ogi, obaku, and this formula has been frequently used for the treatment of hypertension, eye-fundal hemorrhage and headaches. Here we describe three cases of chronic dermatitis with hypertension and dry skin of legs, which were successfully treated with shichimotsukokato. Case 1 was a 67-year-old man whose chief complaint was pruritus and skin eruption on his chest. He also had dry skin accompanied with pruritus on his legs, and hypertension. Case 2 was a 59-year-old man who had skin eruption accompanied with pruritus on his trunk and extremities. He also showed diastolic hypertension and renal insufficiency due to the side effect of an immunosuppressant. Case 3 was a 64-year-old man who had dry skin with eruption on the upper trunk. Furthermore, his blood pressure fluctuated within the high normal range. After medication with shichimotsukokato, both the hypertension and dermatitis improved in all three cases.
According to these observations, shichimotsukokato may alleviate dermatitis along with dry skin of legs and hypertension, and it may be worth noting that shichimotsukokato is an option for the treatment of skin lesion.