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Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) May 2021Acupuncture-type interventions (such as moxibustion and acupuncture) at Bladder 67 (BL67, Zhiyin point) have been proposed to have positive effects on breech... (Review)
Review
Acupuncture-type interventions (such as moxibustion and acupuncture) at Bladder 67 (BL67, Zhiyin point) have been proposed to have positive effects on breech presentation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion and acupuncture in correcting breech presentation. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Chinese Electronic Periodical Services (CEPS), and databases at ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In this study, sixteen RCTs involving 2555 participants were included. Compared to control, moxibustion significantly increased cephalic presentation at birth (RR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.21-1.58). Moxibustion also seemed to elicit better clinical outcomes in the Asian population (RR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.21-1.67) than in the non-Asian population (RR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.01-1.43). The effects of acupuncture on correcting breech presentation after sensitivity analysis were inconsistent relative to control. The effect of moxibustion plus acupuncture was synergistic for correcting breech presentation (RR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.26-1.86) in one RCT. Our findings suggest that moxibustion therapy has positive effects on correcting breech presentation, especially in the Asian population.
PubMed: 34067379
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9060619 -
Medicine Feb 2022Pressure injury is an important global health issue characterized by the high incidence, rapid progression, and difficult healing. How to perform timely treatment and...
BACKGROUND
Pressure injury is an important global health issue characterized by the high incidence, rapid progression, and difficult healing. How to perform timely treatment and care have been the current focus and challenge for health care professionals. Moxibustion can improve skin microcirculation, promote blood circulation, activate tissue cells, inhibit, and kill bacteria on the wounded surface, thus promoting wound healing. However, the clinically reported efficacy of moxibustion in the treatment of pressure injuries varies a lot and lacks evidence-based medical evidence. Therefore, this meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion on the treatment of pressure injuries.
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the moxibustion for pressure injury published before January 2022 will be searched in online databases, including the Chinese Scientific Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. References of eligible literatures will be manually reviewed. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment will be independently performed by 2 reviewers, and meta-analysis of relevant data will be conducted using Stata14.0 software.
RESULTS
The study will provide a high-quality convincing assessment of efficacy and safety of moxibustion for pressure injury.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study will provide the latest evidence support for judging the efficacy and safety of moxibustion on the treatment of pressure injury.
OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER
DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/T543Y.
Topics: Acupuncture Points; Databases, Factual; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Moxibustion; Pressure Ulcer; Research Design; Safety; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 35147097
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028734 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the main cause of disability in diabetes patients but the efficacy of available drugs is poor. Moxibustion is an adjunctive...
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the main cause of disability in diabetes patients but the efficacy of available drugs is poor. Moxibustion is an adjunctive treatment for DPN that can reduce symptoms. The peak value of the far infrared wavelength of 10.6 μm laser moxibustion is close to the infrared radiation spectrum of traditional moxibustion. Its effect is similar to that of moxibustion and does not cause pain, infection or produce irritating smoke. Twenty-four male SD rats were divided into control (Con), DPN, laser moxibustion (LM), and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) groups (n=6/group). The DPN, LM and PDTC group rats were intraperitoneally injected with 1% streptozotocin (STZ) to induce a model of DPN. LM group rats were irradiated with a laser at bilateral ST36 acupoints for 15 min, once every other day, for 14 days. PDTC group rats were intraperitoneally injected with PDTC once a day. Body weight, blood glucose, and paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) were measured and laser speckle imaging (LSI) performed before and after modeling and at 1 and 2 weeks after intervention. Two weeks after intervention, changes in serum interleukin 1β (IL1β), interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were analyzed, and the abundance of NF-κB and IκB-α proteins and levels of NF-κB and IκB-α mRNAs in the sciatic nerve were observed. The results showed that 10.6 μm laser moxibustion can relieve pain, improve microcirculation, and alleviate inflammation in DPN rats, possibly via the NF-κB inflammatory pathway.
Topics: Male; Animals; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; NF-kappa B; Diabetic Neuropathies; Moxibustion; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; Inflammation; Lasers; Diabetes Mellitus
PubMed: 37593350
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1203677 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Aug 2023To investigate the correlation between changes in brain activity associated with working memory and assessment scales of memory scores in amnestic mild cognitive... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between changes in brain activity associated with working memory and assessment scales of memory scores in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) before and after moxibustion therapy.
METHODS
aMCI patients were randomized into the moxibustion treatment (MT) group and the placebo moxibustion (PM) group. Each group received either moxibustion therapy or a placebo moxibustion for eight weeks. Neuropsychological performance and functional brain responses to a working memory task were assessed at baseline and at the end of treatment. Memory function was evaluated individually by the Rivermead behavioral memory test (RBMT), and working memory was assessed by the N-back task.
RESULTS
Compared with the PM group, RBMT score changes were significant ( < 0.05). In the MT group, the accuracy of the N-back texts increased compared with those before the intervention. After moxibustion intervention, the right insula, postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, lingual gyrus, calcarine sulcus, posterior cingulate gyrus, middle frontal gyrus and anterior frontal gyrus were significantly activated (= 0.01, Cluster-level Family-Wise Error = 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the insula, lingual gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus were associated with changes in N-back score. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, lingual gyrus, and posterior cingulate gyrus were correlated with RBMT score changes.
CONCLUSION
Moxibustion treatment improved memory in aMCI patients and was associated with the activation of the brain region of the insula, lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, postcentral gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and thalamus, which may be an important mechanism by which moxibustion improves the memory function.
Topics: Humans; Memory, Short-Term; Moxibustion; Cognitive Dysfunction; Brain; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37454266
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20230526.001 -
PloS One 2024Although several acupuncture and moxibustion therapies have been tested in managing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), there is little consensus regarding the best... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
Although several acupuncture and moxibustion therapies have been tested in managing breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), there is little consensus regarding the best options for treating this condition. This systematic review and network meta-analysis compared the efficacy of various acupuncture and/or moxibustion therapies for BCRL.
METHODS
Seven databases and two clinical registration centers were searched from their inception to December 1st, 2023. The Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias assessment tool evaluated the quality of included RCTs. A pairwise meta-analysis was performed in STATA 16.0, while a network meta-analysis was performed in R 4.2.2.
RESULTS
18 studies were included in this analysis. Our results showed that acupuncture and moxibustion methods had great advantages in improving BCRL of patients with breast cancer. In particular, needle-warming moxibustion (NWM) could be the optimal acupuncture and moxibustion method for improving clinical effectiveness and reducing the degree of swelling of affected limbs.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that NWM has great potential in treating BCRL. It may reduce arm circumference, lower swelling levels, and improve clinical effectiveness. Nevertheless, more multi-center, high-quality, and large sample RCTs will be needed in the future.
Topics: Humans; Moxibustion; Female; Acupuncture Therapy; Breast Cancer Lymphedema; Network Meta-Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 38743748
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303513 -
Life Sciences Dec 2022Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common and irreversible neurodegenerative disease accompanied by extensive synaptic loss. Previous studies found that moxibustion had good...
AIMS
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common and irreversible neurodegenerative disease accompanied by extensive synaptic loss. Previous studies found that moxibustion had good therapeutic effects on AD. We here investigated whether moxibustion could alleviate the cognitive impairment of AD by promoting the "astrocyte-neuron" interaction and enhancing synaptic plasticity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Moxibustion treatment was administrated to Baihui (GV20) and Yongquan (KI1) in APP/PS1 mice. We first evaluated the behavior of APP/PS1 mice with Morris water maze test, and observed the synaptic structure before and after moxibustion intervention. Then, the transcriptome characteristics (TC) and "astrocyte-neuron" interaction were evaluated by spatial transcriptomics (ST). CD38 and its ligand Pecam1, one of the energy shuttle pathways between neurons and astrocytes, were also be detected.
KEY FINDINGS
The results supported that moxibustion increased learning and memory ability and synaptic structure. ST showed that the TC were more similar between the moxibustion and control groups. Moxibustion enhanced the number of ligand - receptor pairs between astrocytes and neurons. And the score of interaction intensity and the proportion of interaction were also increased. Meanwhile, the energy of astrocytes and neurons was significantly altered. Additionally, moxibustion could significantly improve the function of CD38 and its ligand Pecam1 which were previously reported having the function of transporting mitochondria from astrocytes to neurons, and then providing energy for neurons.
SIGNIFICANCE
Our study provides new evidences for the use of moxibustion to increase the "astrocyte - neuron" interaction thus to enhance synaptic plasticity of APP/PS1 mice.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Astrocytes; Moxibustion; Transcriptome; Mice, Transgenic; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Ligands; Disease Models, Animal; Hippocampus; Alzheimer Disease; Neurons; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
PubMed: 36220370
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121052 -
Journal of Integrative Medicine Jan 2024Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort associated with altered bowel habits. Several clinical studies... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disease characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort associated with altered bowel habits. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for IBS. Many systematic reviews of acupuncture and moxibustion for IBS have been published in recent years, but their results are not entirely consistent.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the methodological, reporting, and evidence quality of systematic reviews of acupuncture and moxibustion for IBS.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Systematic reviews of acupuncture and moxibustion for IBS published before February 20, 2023 were searched in eight databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and China Biology Medicine. The keywords used for literature search were acupuncture, moxibustion, systematic review, meta-analysis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture and moxibustion for IBS were included.
DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS
Relevant information was independently extracted by two investigators. The A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2), Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020), and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) were used to evaluate the methodological quality, reporting quality and evidence quality, respectively.
RESULTS
A total of 342 studies were retrieved and 15 systematic reviews were included. The results of AMSTAR 2 showed low methodological quality in 2 studies and very low methodological quality in the remaining 13 studies, with main issues being failure to register a protocol, incomplete search strategy, not providing a list of excluded studies, incomplete consideration of the risk of bias in the included studies, and a failure to assess the publication bias. The results of PRISMA 2020 showed seriously deficient reporting quality of 2 studies, somewhat deficient reporting quality of 12 studies, and relatively complete reporting quality of 1 study, with the main problems being lack of a complete search strategy, non-availability of a list of excluded studies with justification for their exclusion, not conducting heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses, not evaluating the credibility of the evidence, and not registering the protocol. The results of GRADE showed that the quality of the evidence is low or very low.
CONCLUSION
Most included systematic reviews interpreted findings to suggest that acupuncture and moxibustion have benefits for IBS. However, there is a need to improve the methodological, reporting and evidence quality of the systematic reviews. Larger, multicenter, rigorously designed randomized controlled trials and high-quality systematic reviews are required to obtain more robust evidence.
PLEASE CITE THIS ARTICLE AS
Ma YY, Hao Z, Chen ZY, Shen YX, Liu HR, Wu HG, Bao CH. Acupuncture and moxibustion for irritable bowel syndrome: An umbrella systematic review. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(1): 22-31.
Topics: Humans; Moxibustion; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Acupuncture Therapy; China; Biological Products; Multicenter Studies as Topic
PubMed: 38199885
DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2023.12.001 -
Medicine Dec 2023Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a common condition that affects many individuals. Previous clinical trials have explored the use of moxibustion as a potential treatment for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a common condition that affects many individuals. Previous clinical trials have explored the use of moxibustion as a potential treatment for CP. However, the evidence on the effectiveness of moxibustion for CP remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively assess the effects of moxibustion for CP.
METHODS
In order to gather relevant and up-to-date information, we conducted a systematic literature search of databases including Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wangfang from inception until June 30, 2023. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that investigated the use of moxibustion for CP were included in this study. The primary outcomes of interest were the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) scores and the overall response rate. To evaluate the quality of the included studies, we used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.
RESULTS
After analyzing the data from 8 RCTs involving a total of 664 patients, we found significant differences in NIH-CPSI scores between moxibustion and other treatment modalities. Specifically, when compared with herbal medicine, moxibustion was associated with a mean difference (MD) of -1.78 in NIH-CPSI scores (95% confidence interval [CI] [-2.78, -0.78], P < .001), and when compared with western medicine, moxibustion was associated with a MD of -5.24 in NIH-CPSI scores (95% CI [-7.80, -2.67], P < .08). In terms of the overall response rate, moxibustion was found to be superior to herbal medicine, with a MD of 2.36 (95% [19, 4.67], P = .01). Additionally, when moxibustion was combined with herbal medicine, it yielded a higher overall response rate with a MD of 4.07 (95% CI [1.54, 10.74], P = .005) compared to herbal medicine alone. Moxibustion also outperformed western medicine in terms of the overall response rate, with a MD of 4.56 (95% CI [2.24, 9.26], P < .001).
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of this study, moxibustion appears to be a potentially efficacious treatment for CP. The results suggest that moxibustion can improve NIH-CPSI scores and overall response rate in patients with CP. However, further high-quality studies are needed to validate these results and establish the long-term effects of moxibustion as a treatment for CP.
Topics: Male; Humans; Moxibustion; Prostatitis; Chronic Disease; Acupuncture Therapy; Plant Extracts; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38115243
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000036742 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jul 2022Crohn's disease (CD) is a kind of intestinal inflammatory disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract and the incidence rate of CD is gradually... (Review)
Review
Crohn's disease (CD) is a kind of intestinal inflammatory disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract and the incidence rate of CD is gradually increasing worldwide. Acupuncture and moxibustion have unique curative effects on gastrointestinal diseases and can be new options for the treatment of CD.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Crohn Disease; Humans; Moxibustion
PubMed: 35978879
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i25.3001 -
Integrative Medicine Research Dec 2021Recently, some adverse effects of moxibustion has been reported such as burns, smoke, allergies, and so on. To overcome the adverse effects of traditional moxibustion,...
BACKGROUND
Recently, some adverse effects of moxibustion has been reported such as burns, smoke, allergies, and so on. To overcome the adverse effects of traditional moxibustion, an ultrasonic moxibustion device (UMD) was designed, simulated, fabricated, and tested. The objective of this study is to provide detailed information about the main design parameters, simulation outcome, and performance-test results.
METHODS
The main components of the UMD are a 1-MHz ultrasonic transducer (UT) with concave lens, and its applicator. The acoustic pressure and temperature distribution of the UT was simulated and described graphically using COMSOL software, which is based on the finite element method (FEM). Experimental verification of the temperature distribution was performed on the skin of pork. The temperature-change profiles of pork in relation to increase of therapy time were obtained at an unfocused point (2 mm) and at a focal distance of 13 mm. For the performance test, moxibustion therapy was conducted on the abdominal skin of mice for 120 min using the new UMD and its histological images were acquired to analyze the skin-tissue damage.
RESULTS
The FEM simulation of temperature distribution and acoustic pressure agreed with the experimental outcome. Histological images showed that there was no skin-tissue damage to the mouse abdomens after therapy. The results clearly show that the newly developed UMD can overcome the disadvantages of traditional moxibustion therapy and achieve the proposed design parameters.
CONCLUSION
The FEM simulation and performance tests provided valuable information about developing future UMDs. In addition, its performance can be compared with traditional moxibustion therapy for future study.
PubMed: 34150497
DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2021.100729