Modern Research of Moxibustion Treatment on Heat Syndrome
Below is a direct translation from Simplified Chinese to English on the book entitled 《Zhongguo Jiufaxue》 pages 197-199. This book is a compilation of selected clinical research findings done by 21 famous clinical acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners and scholars from different institutions in China which was published by Shanghai Scientific & Technological Publishers in 2006 presented as a gift to The Communist Party of China in celebrating its 85th anniversary .
Modern Research of Moxibustion Treatment on Heat Syndrome
A large number of research studies in different perspectives had been conducted and proven that moxibustion therapy has a good effect on the treatment for heat syndrome.
Antipyretic Effect of Moxibustion
Moxibustion therapy has a direct antipyretic effect. Professor Tian CongHuo of China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine had observed 154 patients whose body temperature were above 38.5°C and had been treated ineffectively with antibiotics. All body temperature had then dropped to ≤37°C within 48 hours after applying moxibustion on Dazhui (DU14) and Quchi (LI11). Comparing with the control group using antibiotics, it had a highly significant difference (P < 0.001). Hemogram test on treatment group found those with low white blood cell count had elevated and those with high white blood cell count had reduced. Animal experiments also showed that moxibustion had antipyretic function. Wang Ying had observed rabbits having fever caused by injection of foreign proteins, their body temperature returned to normal within 24 hours after applying moxibustion on Dazhui (DU14).
2. Antiviral Effect of Moxibustion
Clinically, there are many heat syndrome diseases that are caused by viruses. Moxibustion application on body plays a vital role in the antiviral effect. Respiratory Medicine Department of Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Medical University had observed moxibustion application on more than 100 cases of patients with respiratory disease afflicted by virus such as herpes virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus & etc. had achieved a total effective rate of higher than 95.0%. Pharmacological experiments have showed that mugwort extracts such as mugwort immersion oil has a strong inhibitory effect on many viruses. Studies have also shown that moxibustion can significantly induce the leukocyte interferon function and reduce mortality in mice infected with virus. This indicates that moxibustion has a better anti-virus capability.
3. Treatment Effect of Moxibustion on Infectious Diseases (Plague)
Treatment and plague (disease) prevention using moxibustion application were often found in ancient medical records of acupuncture & Moxibustion. Modern researches have shown moxibustion can have a better therapeutic effect on a number of infectious diseases which are categorized under plague in TCM. Professor Zhou MeiSheng did perform experimental clinical studies by applying moxibustion on Dazhui (DU14) to treat epidemic hemorrhagic fever patients. Research studies have shown that moxibustion can make specific antibody titers in the blood of mice to increase, promote the ability of the body to clear the virus (lowering the EHFV antigen detection rate in lungs). Clinically, moxibustion was used to treat 205 cases of EHFV patients, 70.9% fully recovered with a total effective rate of 97.5%. In 1935, there were 1.2 million tuberculosis patients in Japan. Western medicine method was not an effective method in controlling this disease during that time. Through research discovered moxibustion therapy was very effective. In fact, it was suggested that application of moxibustion was the only way to prevent tuberculosis. Thus, give rise to the " Zusanli Health Campaign" in Japan for their nationals during that time which had effectively prevented the spread of tuberculosis.
4. Moxibustion Regulate Immune System Function
Disorders of body immune system function can result in many diseases. According to Chinese medicine theory “Body with abundant internal energy, won’t be invaded by pathogens”. If body immune system function is normal, then it’s less prone to disease invasion. A lot of research results on acute infectious diseases showed that moxibustion for treatment is not particularly targeting the cause (virus) but rather through the use of moxibustion to improve the body's resistance, promote and regulate the body's white blood cells, macrophages, lymphocytes and other cell-mediated immunity and immune globulin, spinosad, protective substances, lysozyme and other humoral immune system. Moxibustion must be applied on selected acupoints specifically in order to improve the dysfunction of respiratory system. Therefore, moxibustion therapy can be used in the treatment of infectious diseases. Moxibustion can adjust the body's immune system function; improve the body's resistance to diseases. Thus, has the ability to treat diseases. Research studies have shown that application of moxibustion with Chinese herbs put on Dazhui acupoint, such as the series product of “China Moxibustion” has the ability to increase the total peripheral blood leukocyte count in the human body, can promote T-cell transformation functions and improve T-cell counts. At the same time strengthen macrophage function, NK cell activity and increase significantly the IgG serum level.
5. Role of Moxibustion in Improving Respiratory System Function
The main cause of death of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was due to failure of respiratory system function. Numerous studies have showed that moxibustion not only can increase the respiratory system function of normal individuals, but also have significant improvement in patients with lungs diseases. Studies have shown that moxibustion therapy has effect on improving patient airway resistance, Thus, improve pulmonary function with the purpose of preventing and curing diseases radically. lung compliance and improved oxygenation.
In spite of either documented ancient literature or modern scientific findings, moxibustion has definitely played a vital role in the prevention and treatment of heat syndrome diseases such as SARS in different ways. However, based on the clinical symptom manifestations during the 4 stages of SARS according to Chinese medicine, severe heat were manifested during the first 3 stages. At the same time, western medical studies have shown that infected patients during these stages are highly contagious. Referring to the clinical experience of Professor Zhou Meisheng in the treatment of epidemic hemorrhagic fever, application of moxibustion for this kind of highly infectious disease such as SARS, must be applied frequently and should have at least at an average treatment time of 1 to 1.5 hour each time in order to achieve effectiveness. As a respiratory infectious disease, SARS patients must be isolated and placed in a confined environment during the treatment period which is not favorable for traditional moxibustion to apply due to the smoke produced from moxa combustion that will aggravate respiratory symptoms of patients for it will hinder the treatment progress and recovery of the disease. Therefore, application of moxibustion treatment during these phases has a certain degree of difficulty and not clinically viable for those recuperating patients. According to western medicine, the main problem lies in the dysfunction of the immune system, while Chinese medicine considered it as deficiency of both qi and yin and weakness of the lungs and spleen as the main factors, also with persistence of pathogens. Application of moxibustion is more appropriate during this stage of pathological changes and it has a very good prospect. Clinical application of moxibustion for recovery has been proven and showed good results on recuperating patients. At the same time, it should be noted that during the recovering stage, the respiratory function of SARS patients are fragile. Smoke produced by burning moxa can irritate the respiratory tract, and it is not suitable for the rehabilitation of patients. Therefore, the use of a new type of smokeless moxibustion is a best solution to this problem. At the same time it is recommended to apply Chinese herbs mixed with moxa on acupoints to produce dual effects of both medicinal therapy and moxibustion therapy.
To summarize, moxibustion has antipyretic, anti-virus, immune system adjustment function and definitely have a therapeutic effect on infectious diseases (plague). At this moment, prevention and treatment of SARS is still in the exploratory stage (2006). Safety of treatment is very important. At the same time, immune system function is normal or not is also a key factor in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Application of moxibustion is definitely effective in the prevention and treatment on diseases which are caused by virus, immune system dysfunction, such as SARS whereas fever is the main symptom. Application of “Chinese Moxibustion” without smoke reflects a greater benefit and safety without side effects. It can last long with continuous treatment effect and could be used for preventive purpose and treatment as well. The cost is low and easy to popularize. It could be used clinically as one of the supplemental treatments in the prevention and treatment of SARS. We should have the courage to use “ Chinese Moxibustion” for certain infectious diseases, including infectious respiratory diseases. Believe that it could improve curative rate, shorten the course of treatment and help reduce mortality rate.
