Moxibustion plays an important role in Traditional Medicine treatments, which treats and prevents diseases by burning a herb preparation containing Moxa (Artemisia vulgaris, Mugwort) to stimulate the meridians of human body. Moxibustion is considered a safe and effective traditional therapy. Mild moxibustion is a kind of therapeutic method which characterized by wide indications, simple manipulation and comfortable feeling, is commonly used in clinical treatment. Mingmen acupoint located on the midline of the lower back, in the depression below the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra (L2). Its indications include Yang-deficiency syndrome, Cold-Stagnation syndrome, Cold Excessive syndrome,... and it is closely related to the knee area through the path of Thoroughfare Vessel (one of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels). In our study, we investigate the change in skin surface temperature at the knee area on both sides when using mild moxibustion manipulation at Mingmen acupoint with moxa stick in healthy volunteers.
Participants and Methods: A randomized controlled trial is conducted by comparing the change in skin surface temperature before and after using mild moxibustion manipulation at the research acupoint (Mingmen (GV-4) acupoint) or the control acupoint (the left side Pishu (BL-20) acupoint) in healthy volunteers. A total of 38 participants will undergo 2 trial phases, corresponding to 2 times of moxibustion in 8 days, each time is 7 days apart. In the first trial phase: participants received moxibustion at left side Pishu (BL-20) acupoint. In the second trial phase: participants received moxibustion at Mingmen (GV-4) acupoint. The primary outcome was the change in skin surface temperature at the local stimulated area and the knee area on both sides when using mild moxibustion manipulation at Mingmen acupoint. This trial will be performed as a pilot study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
38
To conduct this intervention, we used moxa sticks which were 1.5 cm in diameter, 13 cm long, and weighed 12 gram to perform mild moxibustion manipulation at the control acupoint (the left side Pishu acupoint) or Mingmen acupoint in 2 trial phases. The main ingredient of the moxa was dried mugwort leaf, produced in Vietnam. All moxa materials were obtained from the Sai Gon TCS Co., Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Faculty of Traditional medicine - University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Change in skin surface temperature at the local stimulated area when using mild moxibustion manipulation at Mingmen acupoint
Time frame: During procedure
Change in skin surface temperature at the knee area on both sides when using mild moxibustion manipulation at Mingmen acupoint
Time frame: During procedure
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