Objective: To compare the volatile constituents of folium artemisiae argyi in order to provide chemical evidence for quality standardization. Methods: Volatile oil was extracted from folium artemisiae argyi from five sources by vapour distillation and then detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) to identify and semi-quantify its chemical constituents. Results: The folium artemisiae argyi in Qichun (Hubei Province) and Anguo (Hebei Province) contained many volatile constituents, with uniform and stable contents of these volatile constituents. Conclusion: The types and contents of volatile oil of folium artemisiae argyi are varied in different sources.

This article discusses the functions of massage in acupuncture treatment and argues that massage acts to diagnose diseases, locate acupoints, activate meridian qi before acupuncture treatment,protect healthy qi, dispel pathogenic factors, promote qi arrival and movement during acupuncture treatment, warm and nourish the body, and further promote qi movement and eliminate pathogenic factors after acupuncture treatment. Therefore, massage complements with acupuncture and becomes an essential method in acupuncture treatment.

Objective: To discuss the safety issues of moxibustion therapy in view of moxibustion materials. Methods: The analyses and assessment were performed based on the survey carried out on the use of moxa, modem and ancient records, modern studies, and clinical applications. Results:Moxa has been used as both a medicine and a food for a long history in China. Regarding moxibustion specifically, moxa has been proven to be the optimum choice for moxibustion therapy,through practices and experiments by doctors from different generations. No records have shown any side- or adverse-effects of moxa applied in moxibustion therapy. Conclusion: Moxa has been used in multiple ways for several thousands of years by Chinese people. As the main material for moxibustion therapy, its safety has been proven by documents and clinical practices.

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture of different stimulation waveforms on the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), glutamic acid (Glu) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (CABA) contents of the hypothalamus in rats with para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced insomnia and explore the difference in the effects and the mechanism of its action. Methods Fifty SD rats were randomly allocated to a normal group of 10 rats, a model group of 10 rats and an electroacupuncture group of 30 rats. The electroacupuncture group was then randomly divided to electroacupuncture groups 1, 2 and 3, 10 rats each. A rat model of insomnia was made using PCPA in all groups of rats except the normal group. All the electroacupuncture groups received electroacupuncture treatment. Of them, electroacupuncture group 1 received sparse wave treatment; electroacupuncture group 2, dense wave treatment;electroacupuncture group 3, sparse-dense wave treatment. After 6 days of treatment, every group of rats was sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The 5-HT, Glu and CABA contents of the hypothalamus were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The 5-HT content of the brain decreased significantly in the model group of rats compared with the blank group (P<0.01) and increased significantly in electroacupuncture group 3 of rats compared with the model group (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in brain 5-HT content between electroacupuncture group 2 or 3 of rats and electroacupuncture group 1 (P<0.05,P<0.01) and between electroacupuncture groups 3 and 2 of rats (P<0.01). The Glu and CABA contents of the cerebral cortex and the ratio of Glu/CABA increased significantly in the model group of rats compared with the blank group (both P<0.01) and decreased significantly in electroacupuncture group 3 of rats compared with the model group (both P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the Glu and CABA contents of the cerebral cortex between electroacupuncture group 2 or 3 of rats and electroacupuncture group 1 ((P<0.05,P<0.01) and between electroacupuncture groups 3 and 2 of rats (P<0.01). Conclusions Electroacupuncture can regulate hypothalamic monoamine neurotransmitter 5-HT content and amino acid neurotransmitters Glu and CABA contents and reduce intracerebral amino acid toxicity to produce a therapeutic effect on insomnia in insomnia rats. The therapeutic effect of sparse wave electroacupuncture is superior to that of dense wave or sparse-dense wave electroacupuncture.

Objective To observe the effect of moxa smoke (Artemisia vulgaris) on amino acids neurotransmitters in the brain of senescence accelerated mouse (SAMP8) and explore the anti-aging effect of moxa smoke. Methods Totally 70 SAMP8 were randomized into one model control group and 6 intervention groups, and 10 SAMR1 mice were used as normal control group. There were low, medium and high concentrations of moxa smoke during intervention. Moxa smoke intervention was performed 15 min/30 min each day for 28 days. High performance liquid chromatographic method was used to determine the levels of Glu, Asp and GABA in the brain of the mice. Results Compared with the normal control group, the levels of Asp and Glu in the model control group were significantly higher, while the GABA was significantly lower. The levels of Asp and Glu in 6 intervention groups were significantly lower than those in the model control group, while GABA was significantly higher than or the same as the model control group. There was no significant difference among different intervention groups in the levels of Asp and Glu, while the 30 min-medium concentration moxa smoke had the most significant effect in increasing the level of GABA. Conclusion Moxa smoke intervention could decrease the high level of Asp and Glu, and increase the low level of GABA in SAMP8. It could achieve the effect of anti-aging through adjusting the abnormal metabolism of amino acids in the brain.

For thousands of years, moxibustion has been used for various diseases in China and other Asian countries. Despite the recent surge in Chinese herbal studies, few randomized controlled trials have been conducted on this modality, possibly due to the lacking of suitable double blinding methodology. This is a review of extant sham moxa devices and an introduction to a recently developed device that needs further validation.

Objective To observe the changes of electrical property of the 12 Source-points in encephaloma patients undergoing surgery.Methods A total of 116 encephaloma patients and 60 healthy people who signed the informed consent were enlisted in the present study.The regional cutaneous electric resistance(CER) of the bilateral 12Yuan(Source)-points was measured in the afternoon(14:00-16:00) before and one week after surgery under room temperature [(22?3)℃,(55?10)% in humidity] by using "Meridian Energy Analysis Device".Results In comparison with normal subjects,CER values of the 12 Source-points on both sides of the body in encephaloma patients were significantly lower(P

ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention effects of moxibustion and moxa smoke on blood lipids,hepatic pathological changes and intrahepatocytic molecules related to cholesterol metabolism and analyze the regulating effects of moxibustion and moxa smoke on cholesterol metabolism and explore the mechanisms of actions of moxibustion and moxa smoke. MethodFifty-one 8-week-old ApoE-/-mice were randomized into model, moxa smoke and moxibustion groups, 17 mice each. Twenty C57BL/6 mice comprised a blank control group. The normal and model groups of mice were routinely grabbed and fastened. The moxa smoke group of mice was exposed to 10-15 mg/m3moxa smoke circumstances. The moxibustion group of mice was given moxibustion on point Guanyuan(CV4). All interventions were made 20 min daily, 6 times a week, for 12 consecutive weeks. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. Hepatic pathologic morphology was observed by HE staining. Hepatic CD36 and ABCA1 expressions were determined by immunohistochemical method.ResultIn the model group of mice, serum TG and LDL-C contents were significantly higher than in the normal group (P=0.003;P=0.001);HDL-C content was significantly lower than in the normal group (P=0.007); TC content had no significant difference compared with the normal group (P>0.05). In the moxibustion group of mice, serum TG and LDL-C contents were significantly lower than in the model group (P=0.03;P=0.001) and HDL-C content had no significant difference compared with the model group (P=0.11). In the moxa smoke group of mice, serum TG and LDL contents were significantly lower than in the model group (P=0.01;P=0.008) and HDL content had no significant difference compared with the model group (P=0.11). There were no significant differences in various blood lipid indicators between the moxibustion and moxa smoke groups (P>0.05). There were hepatic cell cord and sinusoid derangement and obvious hepatocytic swelling in the model group of mice. In the moxa smoke and moxibustion groups, hepatocytic swelling subsided significantly, and inflammatory cell infiltration reduced compared with the model group. In the model group,CD36 expression was significantly higher than in the normal group (P=0.004) and ABCA1 expression was significantly lower than in the normal group (P=0.001). In the moxibustion group, CD36 expression had no significant difference compared with the model group (P=0.09) and ABCA1 expression was significantly higher than in the model group (P=0.03). In the moxa smoke group, CD36 expression was significantly lower than in the normal group (P=0.02) and ABCA1 expression was significantly higher than in the model group (P=0.002). There were no significant differences in CD36 and ABCA1 expressions between the moxibustion and moxa smoke groups (P>0.05).ConclusionEarly moxibustion on point Guanyuan can regulate disorders of blood lipid metabolism, delay the occurrence of hepatic lesions and reduce intrahepatic accumulation of cholesterol to a certain extent in an ApoE-/-mouse model of atherosclerosis. That may be one of the mechanisms by which moxibustion therapy prevents atherosclerosis. Moxa smoke as the product of moxibustion is an effective factor in moxibustion producing a therapeutic effect.

The impact factors were explored to determine the horizontal positional relationship between the umbilicus and the 2nd lumbar spinal process in adults and to verify the accuracy of the localization of Shenshu (BL 23) via the umbilicus. The position of the umbilicus and the 2nd lumbar spinal process was measured in 100 participants and the data were analyzed through SPSS 20.0 software. It was found that the umbilicus and the 2nd lumbar process were not positioned horizontally. The positional relationship of these two sites was not apparently correlated with gender, age, body weight, body height, BMI, waistline and discomfort of lumbar region. The umbilicus was commonly and posteriorly projected on the site between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebra. It is explained that the localization of Shenshu (BL23) via the umbilicus is not accurate.
Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Umbilicus ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of moxa smoke versus tobaccosmoke on autonomous behaviors and hippocampal expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in apolipoprotein E gene knockout (ApoE-/-) mice.Method Thirteen 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice constituted a blank control group. Twenty-seven ApoE-/-mice of the same age were randomized into ApoE-/-model, moxa smoke and tobacco smoke groups. The tobacco smoke and moxa smoke groups of mice were exposed to smoke 5-15 mg/m3circumstances. Every group of mice was intervened in 20 min. daily, six days a week, for atotal of 12 weeks. A behavioral test was conducted in week 13. The animals were then sacrificed to take the materials. Hippocampal GFAP in the brain was measured by an immunohistochemical method.ResultAutonomous activities were significantly more in theblank group than in the model group (P<0.05) and significantly fewer in the tobacco smoke group than in the blank group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in autonomous activities between the tobacco smoke group and the model or moxa smoke group (P>0.05). Moving distance was longer in the moxa smoke group than in the model group (P<0.05). Standing-up number was smaller in the moxa smoke group than in the blank group (P<0.05). Integral optical density of GFAP immune reaction products in the hippocampus was significantlyhigher in the model group of mice than in the blank and moxa smoke groups (P<0.05). Hippocampal GFAP expression was significantly higher in the group of mice than in the moxa smoke and blank groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Moxa smoke can increase the excitability of central nervous system in mice and reduce hippocampal GFAP expression in a mice model of Alzheimer disease.