ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitivepoint Yaoyangguan(GV3)moxibustion for sciatica and preliminarily explore the mechanism of its action.MethodOne hundred and twelve sciatica patients were randomly allocated to heat-sensitive point Yaoyangguan moxibustion (observation), non-heat-sensitive point Yaoyangguan suspended moxibustion (control) and medication groups. The observation group received heat-sensitive point Yaoyangguan moxibustion; the control group, non-heat-sensitive point Yaoyangguan suspended moxibustion; the medication group, oral administration of Yaobitong capsules. The clinical symptoms were scored, the Pain Rating Index (PRI), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Present Pain Intensity (PPI) scores were counted and serum IL-8 content was measured in the three groups beforeand after 15 days of treatment.ResultAfter 15 days of treatment, all the three treatments had a certain therapeutic effect on sciatica. The therapeutic effect was bestin the observation group (P<0.05). The PRI, VAS and PPI scores and serum IL-8 contentdecreased in all the three groups compared with before treatment (P<0.05) and were lower in the observation group than in the control and medication groups (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the control and medication groups (P>0.05).ConclusionHeat-sensitive point Yaoyangguan moxibustion has a better therapeutic effect than non-heat-sensitive point Yaoyangguan suspended moxibustion and oral administration of Yaobitong capsules. This method is an ideal treatment for sciatica. The mechanism may be related to a posttreatment decrease in inflammatory factors in the diseased region.