Is There a Difference between the Effects of Single and Triple Indirect Moxibustion Stimulations on Skin Temperature Changes of the Posterior Trunk Surface?

Abstract

Objectives To determine whether any difference exists in responses to indirect moxibustion (IM) relative to thermal stimulation duration. Methods In experiment 1, 9 subjects attended two experimental sessions consisting of single stimulation with IM or triple stimulation with IM, using a crossover design. A K-type thermocouple temperature probe was fi xed on the skin surface at the GV14 acupuncture point. IM stimulation was administered to the top of the probe in order to measure the temperature curve. In addition, each subject evaluated his or her subjective feeling of heat on a visual analogue scale after each stimulation. Experiment 2 was conducted on 42 participants, divided into three groups according to the envelope allocation method: single stimulation with IM (n=20), triple stimulation with IM (n=11) and a control group (n=11). A thermograph was used to obtain the skin temperature on the posterior trunk of the participant. To analyse skin temperature, four arbitrary frames (the scapular, interscapular, lumbar and vertebral regions) were made on the posterior trunk. Result In experiment 1, no signifi cant difference in maximum temperature was found in IM and subjective feeling of heat intensity between single and triple stimulation with IM. In experiment 2, increases in skin temperature occurred on the posterior trunk, but no differences in skin temperature occurred between the groups receiving single and triple stimulation with IM. Conclusion No difference exists in the skin temperature response to moxibustion between the single and triple stimulation with IM.

Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthase Attenuates Cutaneous Vasodilation During Warm Moxibustion-Like Thermal Stimulation in Humans

“…In normal warm moxibustion, thermal stimulation of the skin is inherently unstable because of the form and properties of the moxa, and quantitative stimulation is difficult to apply. 10,11 Therefore, the present study was performed with warm moxibustion-like thermal stimulation (WMTS) using an electronic warm moxibustion treatment appliance. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that NO and/or PG contribute to cutaneous vasodilation during WMTS.…”

Is There a Difference between the Effects of One-Point and Three-Point Indirect Moxibustion Stimulation on Skin Temperature Changes of the Posterior Trunk Surface?

“…9 In this study we hypothesised that it would be more clinically applicable and effective when three acupuncture point locations were thermally stimulated rather than when the same duration of stimulation was applied on the same point. The changes in skin temperature observed following IM in this study suggest that multiple-point stimulation may produce a more profound impact on skin temperature than single-point stimulation.…”

“…8 However, using the same type of IM, Mori et al found that the resulting human skin temperature ranged from 46°C to 67.5°C (mean 50°C). 9 A study by Yi investigated the thermal properties of a different type of IM in which moxa was placed on sliced garlic. 10 The study showed that the maximum temperature when the moxa was applied on a 1.7 mm garlic slice reached 43°C at the fi rst application, rising to 55°C during the fourth consecutive application.…”

Changes in Skin Surface Temperature at An Acupuncture Point with Moxibustion

“…17 20 A study by Adriaensen et al 21 showed that thermal stimulation of human skin at 44.5–46.5°C activated A-fibre mechano-heat-sensitive nociceptors. Mori et al 22 23 showed that the maximum temperature for indirect moxibustion was approximately 50°C.…”