Acupuncture-moxibustion technical specifications are a crucial component of the acupuncture-moxibustion standardization system. This study reviews the current development status of acupuncture-moxibustion technical specifications in China, and analyzes their classifications and characteristics. It is found that the scope and classification of acupuncture technical specifications remain unclear in academic circles, and the development process faces numerous difficulties and challenges. Therefore, this study proposes the need for a systematic approach to the planning and management of acupuncture technical specifications based on a clear definition of acupuncture techniques and categories. Additionally, it suggests conducting methodological research on the development of acupuncture technical specifications and promoting the rational application of the consensus method in this process.
China ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Acupuncture/standards*

The paper introduces the investigation on the versions, herbal composition, indications and treatment of Taiyi Shenzhen (Taiyi Miraculous Pressing Moxibustion Technique with Herbal Moxa Stick). Taiyi Shenzhen Xinfa, written by HAN Yifeng in the Qing Dynasty, is the special book with this moxibustion technique recorded in the earliest time. But this book did not record the related herbal composition. In Taiyi Shenzhen, written by FAN Yuyi in the later time of the same dynasty, the herbal composition and the preparation of moxa stick were described in detail. There are many versions of this book, with various content contained. Nowadays, there are at least 4 versions of Taiyi Shenzhen, named, the re-carved version of the original block-printed edition of Taiyi Shenzhen of Yinxiang bookstore version; ZHOU Yonghe's block-printed edition, with the greatest influence and the most widely spread. In terms of the herbal composition, indications and treatment, this version is greatly different from those of Yinxiang bookstore version; and the reprinted version of Guansheng Pavilion in the 19th year of Jiaqing Emperor (1814) and the block-printed version of Hanmo hall in the 12th year of Tongzhi Emperor (1873). These two versions were less spread, and the herbal composition, indications and treatment were very close to those in the version of Yinxiang bookstore.
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; China ; Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; History, Ancient ; Books/history*

Several metal needles were unearthed from the tomb of LIU He, the Marquis of Haihun in Nanchang, Jiangxi province. Based on the inscription on the signboard unearthed from the tomb and the handed down literature, these needles should be closely related to the "nine needles" mentioned in the handed down medical classics. These needles should be used in acupuncture and moxibustion at that time, and their diameters are close to the specifications and dimensions of the needles in the modern time, which provides the important cultural relics data of the Han Dynasty for the research of early acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine. This article uses the method of mutual verification of unearthed cultural relics, unearthed documents, and handed down documents to investigate the acupuncture method of medical needles unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Haihun, and to sort out and demonstrate the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in the Western Han Dynasty. The medical needles unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Haihun and their needling techniques can be confirmed by the "nine needles" in the Lingshu (Miraculous Pivot), the "acupuncture treatment" in the bamboo slips of the Han Dynasty in the Northwest, and the "acupuncture atlas" on the Han portrait stone. It proves that the manufacturing of needles for acupuncture and moxibustion and the therapeutic methods and techniques of acupuncture had been greatly developed in the middle and late stages of the Western Han Dynasty.
Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Needles/history* ; China ; Humans ; History, Ancient ; Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/instrumentation*

OBJECTIVE: An intelligent moxibustion instrument based on electromyography was designed to evaluate the real-time therapeutic effect of moxibustion. METHODS: Taking Shenshu (BL23) as the subject, surface electromyography (sEMG) at the center and equidistant points of Shenshu (BL23) were collected. The characteristic parameters, integrated electromyography (iEMG) and root mean square (RMS) were calculated before and after moxibustion. After analyzing the effect of moxibustion, a function algorithm for the end-of-moxibustion was obtained. Using this algorithm and combined with STM32 technology, the control system of moxibustion instrument and the upper computer software were designed to achieve the precise control during moxibustion delivery. Finally, the function, stability and safety of the moxibustion instrument were verified through clinical trials to ensure its effectiveness in practical application. RESULTS: During one cycle of moxibustion at the center of Shenshu (BL23), the iEMG of sEMG decreased over time, meaning the decrease in muscle fatigue degree, and after one cycle of moxibustion, it elevated over time, showing the increase in muscle fatigue degree. RMS increased by 1.90% before and after moxibustion at the equidistant points of Shenshu (BL23), and the system indicated the end of moxibustion when RMS increased by 0.15%, and decreased by 0.13% at the center of Shenshu (BL23). The intelligent moxibustion instrument designed based on this algorithm can realize the function of mild moxibustion, and the effect of moxibustion can be evaluated by the real-time monitoring of RMS changes through the upper computer. During the operation of moxibustion instrument, moxa stick was fixed stably, remained a safe distance of 3 cm to 4 cm away from the skin surface. When the length of moxa stick was less than 5 cm left after ignited and the skin temperature exceeded the preset safety threshold of 48 ℃, the system was alarmed automatically. CONCLUSION The intelligent moxibustion instrument designed in the research can effectively evaluate the effect of moxibustion, and ensure the safety and stability during moxibustion delivery.
Humans ; Moxibustion/methods* ; Electromyography/instrumentation* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Algorithms ; Middle Aged

The Fragment of Dunhuang Ancient Tibetan Moxibustion Therapy contains rich content on fire moxibustion therapy of Tubo-period Tibetan medicine, characterized by distinctive clinical features of Tibetan acupuncture and strong regional attributes. This paper systematically reviews the relevant materials on moxibustion in the Fragment and summarizes the findings as follows: Tibetan fire moxibustion mainly uses mugwort as the material, and terms like "fine mugwort", "broad bean" and "sheep dung pellet" refer to the size of the moxa cone. The number of moxa cones used is predominantly odd numbers, usually ranging from 5 to 21. The main indications for fire moxibustion cover internal medicine, external medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, and various pain syndromes. The therapy advocates for treating acute conditions and heat syndromes with moxibustion. The manuscript also records detailed contraindications, including time-based and seasonal taboos. Moxibustion is applied to both local and distal acupoints, reflecting the therapeutic concept of treating both proximal and distal regions. Furthermore, it documents simple and practical acupoint localization methods such as surface anatomical markers, proportional bone measurement, finger measurement, and hand-span measurement. Compared with contemporaneous Chinese medical moxibustion techniques, the moxibustion methods recorded in this Fragment are rich in content and present unique Tibetan theoretical characteristics. It provides valuable data and evidence for the excavation, application, and further research of Tibetan acupuncture and moxibustion.
Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Humans ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional/history* ; Tibet ; Acupuncture Points

This paper summarizes the historical background of the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion and digital intelligence technology, and its relevant studies in recent years. From three aspects, i.e. meridian points, acupuncture and moxibustion techniques and clinical research, the research status and landing scenarios of such combination, as well as its application value and development prospects were explored. It was found that in the development of digital intelligence of acupuncture and moxibustion, the acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners encountered the insufficient preparation in the coming career situation, the high-level research platforms were few, the cross-interdisciplinary talents were of the shortage, the quantity and quality of data were out of perfection and the study depth and breadth was limited. Focusing on these problems, and associating with the development and research status of the industry, it was attempt to give the analysis and suggestion. In the future, supported by digital intelligence technology to empower acupuncture research, the effect mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion can be explored in view of more dimensions and deeper levels, and more objective and higher-quality medical evidence can be generated. Eventually, the development of acupuncture and moxibustion industry can be boosted, the modernization of acupuncture and moxibustion and the internationalization of TCM be accelerated.
Moxibustion/history* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation*

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the rules of temporal and spatial variations in distal skin potential at Hegu (LI4) under different stimulation modes by extracting nonlinear characteristic parameters from array multichannel data and adopting multivariate statistical analysis. METHODS: Seven healthy subjects were selected and the surface potential at the left Quchi (LI11) was collected using 14×9 array multichannel electrodes. Using Hegu (LI4) on the left as the stimulation point, four stimulation modes were applied, i.e. being quiescent, point pressing, moxibustion, and manual needling manipulation. Electrical signals were collected for 30 s in each mode, with a 5-min interval between operations, and a sampling frequency of 16 384 Hz. The data was denoised using ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), and sample entropy (SaEn) features were extracted. Statistical analysis was conducted on these data using factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS: The SaEn values of most electrode channels were higher under point pressing, moxibustion and manual needling manipulation compared with those under quiescent condition. Under manual needling manipulation, the SaEn value of the electrode channel reached the peak in the first time interval (1-5 s) and it was declining thereafter. Factor analysis showed that the specificity of activation channels was concentrated at the left Quchi (LI11) (loading capacity ≥0.90). Analysis of variance indicated that the significant differences were presented in average sample entropy (SaEn()) values of activation channels among different stimulation modes at Hegu (LI4) (P<0.001), but there was no statistically significant interaction effect between groups and time intervals (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Through nonlinear characteristic parameter extraction and multivariate statistical analysis, we have uncovered the complex temporal and spatial dynamical rules of distal skin potential at Hegu (LI4) under various stimulation modes and successfully identified the specific activation characteristics at Quchi (LI11).
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Points ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation*

With the development and the application of intelligent acupuncture and moxibustion equipment such as moxibustion robot and acupuncture robot, intelligent technology is constantly involved in the innovation of education. Computer technology represented by knowledge graph is re-constructing, in a structured form, including the fragmented information of the knowledge of acupuncture and moxibustion at all times and in all countries. Its application in the education scene further promotes the optimization of the technology itself. The knowledge fusion for the vertical scene of acupuncture-moxibustion knowledge has impelled us to develop universal entity and relationship extraction techniques. With the help of knowledge graph, the four-diagnosis equipment and acupuncture and moxibustion treatment equipment can be deeply integrated, and the wise information technology be thoroughly applied in the whole process of acupuncture and moxibustion education, so as to give full play to the "emergence" effect of knowledge and thinking, and drive the development of the theories of acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine.
Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Acupuncture/education* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Knowledge

Intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment is an important force in promoting the inheritance, innovation, and modernization of acupuncture-moxibustion. This paper reviews the development status of intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment and related new technologies, as well as the challenges faced. It is found that, with the advancement of technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment has shown characteristics of greater precision, miniaturization, intelligence, and portability. However, deficiencies remain in areas such as standardization and regulation, including relatively low rates of effective transformation and a lack of innovation in research outcomes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to formulate corresponding strategies: improving the development of relevant standards for intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment, encouraging the integration of medicine and engineering, cultivating interdisciplinary talents, and strengthening the protection of invention patents. It is necessary to establish a demand-oriented pathway connecting "equipment development, equipment evaluation, product formation" through multiple stages such as talent training and research project initiation, thereby promoting the modernization and standardization of intelligent acupuncture-moxibustion medical equipment and supporting the revitalization of traditional medicine.
Moxibustion/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/trends* ; Artificial Intelligence

In the view of the defects of the commonly used moxibustion instruments and moxa heating instruments, such as the moxa ash cannot be removed automatically, the temperature of moxibustion and moxibustion smoke is difficult to be stabilized and adjusted, and the instruments are complex and expensive, a moxibustion device with separated moxibustion smoke and heat is designed. This device can automatically remove the moxa ash and keep it on the isolation net; the temperature of the moxibustion outlet is maintained at 43-48 ℃ (effective moxibustion temperature) for more than 40 minutes, and there is no visible moxa smoke; the temperature of the moxa smoke outlet is controlled between 28-75 ℃, and the effective discharge of moxa smoke can be realized without external power equipment. This device has the advantages of stable and controllable temperature of moxibustion outlet and moxa smoke outlet, automatic removal and collection of moxa ash, separation of moxa smoke without additional power, etc., which can be used in clinical and animal experiments for moxa heating, moxa smoke removal, etc.
Equipment Design ; Hot Temperature ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Smoke