ABSTRACT
The therapeutic effect and mechanism of moxibustion in the treatment of Herpes Zoster were studied. It was found that the level of T lymphocyte subsets of the patients with Herpes Zoster was within the normal range before treatment, but slightly lower than in the health group. Th cells and NK cells were significantly decreased in the patients with Herpes Zoster as compared with those in the health group (P＜0. 05),suggesting the cellular immunity of the patients with Herpes Zoster was decreased. After treatment with moxibustion, the level of all the T lymphocyte subsets was increased, close to the normal. Among them the levels of Th cells and NK cells were significantly different from those before the treatment (P＜0. 05). The disappearance of exanthema and relief of neuralgia in the patients was also quicker than in the controls (P＜0. 01). It was indicated that moxibustion had a good effect in the treatment of Herpes Zoster, which was contributed to the enhancement of the body antiviral ability by the improvement of immunity, especially the cellular immunity.