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ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of herb-partitioned moxibustion on the navel combined with Yishen Tongluo prescription in the treatment of infertility induced by idiopathic asthenozoospermia （iAZS） with kidney-Yang deficiency and collateral obstruction syndrome and its effect on sperm DNA damage and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in the seminal plasma. MethodsA total of 112 eligible patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into an observation group （56 cases） and a control group （56 cases）. The patients in the observation group were treated with herb-partitioned moxibustion on the navel combined with Yishen Tongluo prescription，while those in the control group received levocarnitine oral liquid. The primary observation indicators included spouse pregnancy rate，progressive motility （PR），and total sperm motility，and the secondary observation indicators included sperm DNA fragmentation index （DFI），SOD in the seminal plasma， and improvement of TCM syndromes. The treatment cycle was 12 weeks. Before and after treatment，the PR，total sperm motility，sperm DFI，SOD in the seminal plasma， and TCM syndrome scores were recorded. The patients were followed up for 12 weeks and the pregnancy status of spouses within 24 weeks （half a year） was recorded. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated. ResultThe pregnancy rate of spouses in the observation group was 15.69% （8/51）， higher than 3.85% （2/52） in the control group （χ2=4.118，P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was 88.24%（45/51）， superior to 69.23% （36/52）in the control group （Z=-3.402，P<0.01）. After treatment， PR， total sperm motility，sperm DFI， SOD in the seminal plasma， and TCM syndromes of the two groups were improved compared with those before treatment （P<0.05）， and the observation group was superior to the control group （P<0.05）. ConclusionHerb-partitioned moxibustion on the navel combined with Yishen Tongluo prescription in the treatment of iAZS-induced infertility patients with kidney-Yang deficiency and collateral obstruction syndrome can increase PR，total sperm motility， and SOD level in the seminal plasma， reduce sperm DFI，improve the TCM symptoms of patients， and improve the pregnancy rate of spouses. The mechanism may be attributed to the fact that this treatment can increase the SOD level in the seminal plasma of patients，enhance the body's antioxidant function，protect sperm from oxidative stress damage，and reduce sperm DFI.
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Objective:To study the clinical application of hanging moxibustion in intervention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of lower extremity after intertrochanteric fracture of femur, in order to provide theoretical basis for the clinical application of suspension moxibustion.Methods:By adopting a controlled clinical trial method, a total of 100 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture who came to Keqiao District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province for orthopaedic surgery from January 2021 to September 2022 were selected by convenient sampling method and randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, 50 cases in each group. The control group was given routine nursing intervention, and the observation group was given the traditional Chinese medicine nursing intervention of hanging moxibustion on the basis of the control group. The changes of coagulation function indexes, hemorheology indexes, hemodynamics, the swelling degree score of the affected limb, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of the affected limb pain in the two groups of patients with intertrochanteric fracture before and 14 days after the intervention, and the incidence of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the two groups after 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, and 14 d of intervention were observed and recorded.Results:After 14 days of intervention, D-dimer, fibrinogen and prothrombin time in the observation group were (380.64 ± 41.78) μg/L, (4.51 ± 0.49) g/L and (10.46 ± 1.04) s, respectively, which were better than those in the control group (464.91 ± 46.81) μg/L, (4.82 ± 0.56) g/L and (12.85 ± 1.12) s with statistical difference ( t=9.50, 2.95, 11.06, all P<0.05). After 14 days of intervention, the whole blood low tangential viscosity, whole blood high tangential viscosity and plasma viscosity in the observation group were (8.34 ± 0.42), (3.72 ± 0.28) and (1.21 ± 0.18) mPa/s, respectively, which were significantly lower than (8.90 ± 0.46), (4.13 ± 0.26) and (1.53 ± 0.22) mPa/s in the control group ( t=6.36, 7.59, 7.96, all P<0.05). After 14 days of intervention, the postoperative blood flow, maximum blood flow velocity and average blood flow velocity in the observation group were (1.89 ± 0.26) L/min, (31.57 ± 3.29) cm/s, (34.41 ± 3.62) cm/s, which were significantly higher than (1.45 ± 0.21) L/min, (24.18 ± 2.85) cm/s, (27.96 ± 3.15) cm/s in the control group ( t=9.31, 12.01, 9.50, all P<0.05). After 14 days of intervention, the total incidence of lower limb DVT in the observation group was 2.00%(1/50) , lower than 24.00%(12/50) in the control group, the difference between the two groups was significant ( χ2=10.70, P<0.05). Conclusions:Suspended moxibustion can significantly improve the coagulation function, hemorheology, hemodynamics, swelling and pain of the affected limb in patients with postoperative intertrochanteric fracture of the femur, and reduce the occurrence of DVT in the lower extremity. It is recommended to be widely used in clinical practice.
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Objective:To explore the intervention effect of Shumu Peitu herb-partitioned moxibustion on clinical signs and symptoms and negative emotions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern.Methods:A total of 72 patients with IBS-D of liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern treated in the Department of Gastroenterology of Nanjing Vniversity of Chinese Medicine from September 2021 to June 2022 were selected for randomized controlled trial. The patients were randomly divided into the observation group (2 cases dropped off, 34 cases in total) and control group (1 case dropped off, 35 cases in total) by random number table method. The patients in control group were treated with Tongxieyaofang (TXYF). The patients in observation group were treated with oral administration of TXYF and Shumu Peitu herb-partitioned moxibustion, and both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome integral, IBS Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBS-QOL), IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS), Bristol Stool Form Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were compared before and after treatment.Results:After treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group was 94.12%(32/34), which was higher than the 71.43%(25/35) in the control group, the difference was significant ( χ2 = 6.18, P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome integral in the observation group was (7.62 ± 4.08), which was lower than the (9.89 ± 4.71) in the control group, the difference was significant ( t = 2.14, P<0.05). After treatment of 3 days, the scores of quality of life in the five dimensions of dysthymia, behavior disorder, health worry, avoidance of eating and social function in the observation group were (82.44 ± 11.46), (80.25 ± 11.67), (76.23 ± 12.67), (59.80 ± 15.14) and (79.23 ± 11.59) points, which were different with the (73.57 ± 12.39), (72.35 ± 15.48), (69.76 ± 13.11), (50.00 ± 16.17) and (73.04 ± 13.11) points in the control group, the difference were significant ( t values were -3.09 - -2.08, all P<0.05). Three days after treatment, the score of IBS-SSS and Bristol fecal character in the observation group were (118.24 ± 40.64) and (5.09 ± 0.62) points, which were lower than the (146.86 ± 60.09) and (5.51 ± 0.66) points in the control group, the difference were significant ( t = 2.31 and 2.76, both P<0.05). After treatment, the score of HADS-A and HADS-D in the observation group were (6.26 ± 1.75) and (5.29 ± 1.47), which were different with the (7.26 ± 2.19) and (6.17 ± 2.11) in the control group, the difference were significant ( t = 2.08 and 2.00, both P<0.05). Conclusions:Shumu Peitu herb-partitioned moxibustion can effectively improve IBS-D patients with liver-stagnation and spleen-deficiency pattern, relieve clinical symptoms, reduce negative emotions, and improve quality of life.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) non-drug therapy for gastroesophageal reflux mainly includes appropriate TCM techniques, such as conventional acupuncture, moxibustion, fire needle, etc. Emotional therapy, such as regulating emotion, transforming the patient's spirit and change the state of qi, the five-element music therapy, etc; exercise therapy, such as Baduanjin and Zhanzhuang, can be used alone, or in combination, or in combination with oral administration of Chinese materia medica. By reducing the probability of esophageal sphincter relaxation, inhibiting gastric acid secretion, improving esophageal motility disorder, reducing visceral hypersensitivity, immune regulation and other effects, it can alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux, heartburn and pharyngeal discomfort, and help to improve the patients' anxiety, depression and other negative emotions. It has the characteristics of simplicity and fewer adverse reactions, at the same time, according to the patient's condition and compliance to choose the appropriate therapy. The mechanism of TCM non-drug therapy in the treatment of this disease needs to be further explored, so as to better guide clinical popularization and application.
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Objective:To explore the effect of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture treatment on brain network reorganization for the patients with stroke recovery, and therefore understand the neural mechanism underlying Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture treatment.Methods:Prospective case series study. Thirteen acute ischemia stroke patients were recruited from the Department of Neurology, Shanghai Minhang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from Aug 2018 to Oct 2019. They were treated with Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture once a day for 10 consecutive days in addition to routine treatments, and received clinical assessments before treatment and 14 days after treatment onset. EEG signals were recorded during the first acupuncture treatment, from before inserting the needles (the baseline), during needle retention, to after removal of the needles. The brain network was constructed using phase locking index, and its clustering coefficient (CC), characteristic path length (PL) and small-worldness (S) were analyzed using one-way repeated ANOVA.Results:Compared with the baseline, the CC of delta-band network (sparsity=0.10: t=3.306, P=0.006; 0.12: t=2.909, P=0.013; 0.14: t=2.331, P=0.038) and the PL of delta-band (sparsity=0.12: t=3.236, P=0.007; 0.14: t=2.754, P=0.017, 0.18: t=2.878, P=0.014) and alpha-band (sparsity=0.10: t=2.432, P=0.032) networks were significantly decreased during the needle retention stage. Clinical assessments demonstrated a significant treatment efficacy of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture, and its efficacy which was indicated by improved NIHSS score, was significantly correlated with the CC changes in the delta band network from baseline to needle retention. The correlation was strongest when the network sparsity was 0.12 ( r=0.78, P=0.002). Conclusion:Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture can regulate the brain network of stroke patients in real time, and this immediate regulation maybe associated with its treatment effect.
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Objective:To summarize the application rules of acupuncture and moxibustion in the clinical trials for dysmenorrhea and endometriosis.Methods:The relevant articles of clinical research on acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of dysmenorrhea in endometriosis were retrieved electronically from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed and Cochrane Library (Retrieved from database establishment until 31 October 2021). The clinical literatures that met the inclusion criteria were included into the database (Microsoft Office Excel 2019), and the main table and sub-table were established through Microsoft Office Excel 2019. Descriptive statistic analysis was performed by using SPSS 26.0 software. StataSE15 (64-bit) software was used to analyze the correlation between the combinations of acupoints with single acupoint frequency>5.Results:A total of 40 clinical studies were included. Of them, the top 3 acupuncture methods according to the frequency were acupuncture (11 times), moxibustion (11 times), and electro-acupuncture (8 times), the top 3 acupuncture points used according to the frequency were Guan Yuan (34 times), San Yin Jiao (26 times), and Zhong Ji (25 times), the top 3 meridians of the body acupuncture points according to the frequency were Ren Meridian (36 times), Spleen Meridian (32 times), and Stomach Meridian (22 times). According to the correlation analysis, body points of Guan Yuan, San Yin Jiao, Uterus, Qi Hai and Zhong Ji were stronge related.Conclusion:Acupuncture can effectively treat EMT dysmenorrhea with less adverse reactions. The methods are mainly acupuncture, moxibustion and electroacupuncture, mostly local acupoints, intersection acupoints and empirical acupoints.
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The meridian theory is the pioneer of clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). From Shang Han Lun to Pi Wei Lun, the meridian theory has contributed important theoretical organization materials and clinical practice experience to the establishment of the diagnosis system of external and internal injuries. The acupoints contained in its clinical acupuncture and moxibustion record symptoms, and some laws summarized have been absorbed and used for reference. It shows the positive significance of its exploration in clinical diagnosis and treatment. A system of differentiation and treatment of external and internal injuries with acupuncture has not been formed, even though the meridian theory of TCM has a long history with many areas being explored, such as diseases, acupoints, acupuncture methods and stimulation amount. Therefore, this paper starts from the academic development history of meridians, reviews and analyzes the contribution and limitations of TCM acupuncture and moxibustion in the diagnosis and treatment of internal injury, in order to enlighten the current study and understanding of TCM.
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ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion before menstruation and since the first day of menstruation on primary dysmenorrhoea （PD）， thereby optimizing the clinical treatment plan. MethodsSixty patients with PD were randomly divided into pretreatment group （treated before menstruation） and conventional treatment group （treated since the first day of menstruation） of 30 cases each. For all patients， the area surrounded by bilateral Zigong （EX-CA1） and bilateral Guilai （ST 29） in the supine position， and that formed by bilateral Shenshu （BL 23） and Ciliao （BL 32） in the prone position were selected for circling moxibustion （2 min）， sparrow-pecking moxibustion （1 min）， and then moxibustion along the channels to stimulate the moxibustion sensation and obtain two heat-sensitive points with the best sensation for treatment. In the pretreatment group， moxibustion was applied 3-7 days before the onset of menstruation， and in the conventional treatment group， moxibustion was applied on the day of menstruation. Both groups were treated once daily for 7 days per menstrual cycle for 3 consecutive cycles. The clinical outcomes of the two groups were measured before and after treatment in terms of the COX menstrual pain symptom scale （CMSS） scores， visual analogue scale for pain （VAS） scores， and uterine artery hemodynamic indicators including blood pulsation index （PI） and resistance index （RI）， and the clinical effect was compared. ResultsAfter treatment， the CMSS scores， VAS scores， PI and RI in the two groups decreased， and lower scores were found in the pretreatment group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The total effective rate after treatment was 93.3% （28/30） in the pretreatment group， which was better than 73.3% （22/30） in the conventional treatment group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe clinical effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion before the menstruation for PD was better than that implemented since the first day of menstruation， by significantly improving the patients' dysmenorrhoea symptoms and uterine artery blood flow index.
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As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine， the efficacy and scientificity of acupuncture have attracted more and more attention. In recent years， rigorous randomized controlled clinical trials have confirmed the efficacy of acupuncture on certain dominant diseases， and basic researches have partially revealed the mechanism of acupuncture for treating diseases. By analyzing published literatures and referring to relevant studies from our research team， this paper reviews the mechanisms of acupuncture for treating neurological and other diseases via regulating the autophagy-lysosomal pathway （ALP）. We found that acupuncture improved related pathologies in different disease models by up-regulating or down-regulating ALP， and there is a certain correlation between the distribution of acupoints and the one-way/two-way regulation of ALP； however， the current studies have some defects in experimental design and methodology， and the molecular mechanisms of acupuncture on ALP regulation remain to be further elucidated.
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Real-world study is based on evidence in real clinical medical environments. The results of real-world study have high clinical applicability and strong extrapolation， and are more in line with the characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion. Therefore， real-world study is receiving more and more attention from the clinical research community. In this article， we briefly analyze the compatibility between real-world study and clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion，and discuss the implementation of real-world research methodology of acupuncture and moxibustion. In addition， the shortcomings and countermeasures of real-world study on acupuncture and moxibustion in China are also summarized. At the end， we provide an outlook on the application of real-world study in clinical research of acupuncture and moxibustion.
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Central nervous system （CNS） is a sophisticated system subject to complex regulation， which dominates the high-level neural activities of the human body. Due to its complex physiological structure and refined regulatory mechanism covering a variety of diseases， CNS is the place where many chronic， refractory and rare diseases occur. Nerve cell is the basic unit of CNS， and its dysfunction and death is the root cause of CNS diseases. Ferroptosis is a new form of programmed cell death proposed in recent years， and has been proved to be closely related to the production and development of multiple CNS diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， including Chinese herbs， acupuncture and moxibustion， and massage， has shown unique advantages in the treatment of CNS diseases for a long time. A large number of studies have demonstrated that TCM participates in the regulation of CNS diseases via regulating ferroptosis and shows a good research prospect. This paper summarized the characteristics of ferroptosis and discussed the association between ferroptosis and CNS diseases in pathological mechanism. We also reviewed the regulation of various CNS diseases by different TCM interventions through ferroptosis， providing references for TCM to participate in the treatment of CNS diseases properly in the future.
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There is little common understanding among acupuncturists regarding the poor prognosis for peripheral facial paralysis, evaluation methods, precautions during treatment, including acupuncture and moxibustion treatment. Cooperation among relevant occupations is also a major issue. Currently, the treatment of paralysis is focused on how to minimize sequelae during the recovery process of paralysis in cases with poor prognosis. The goal is to prevent sequelae and improve patient quality of life (QOL). For that purpose, it is important to understand the guidelines for medical treatment of paralysis, and like other medical staff, the acupuncturist should provide appropriate medical examination, treatment, self-care guidance, etc., and cooperate with other medical specialists. We hope that this seminar will provide a common understanding of the pathophysiology and evaluation methods of paralysis, precautions for acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, and a consensus of clinical research and the future possibility of using acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of paralysis.
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The 2022 International Conference for Global Cooperation in Traditional Medicine was held in a hybrid meeting at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel in Seoul on the 1st and 2nd of November 2022. This international conference was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea, organized by the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development, and supported by The Society of Korean Medicine. At this conference, a bilateral exchange of acupuncture and moxibustion therapies between Japan and Korea was held at the Republic of Korea-Japan Symposium I. The aims of the symposium were to combine conventional and traditional medical knowledge of frailty and sarcopenia and to share possible ideas to develop proper treatment for frailty and sarcopenia.
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The number of patients with novel coronavirus infections (COVID-19) continues to increase with Omicron now the predominant strain, even amidst the three-dense (close-in, dense, and close-out) avoidance and vaccination strategies. In collaboration with the local government, Tohoku University Hospital has provided a large-scale vaccination center, drive-through outpatient PCR testing clinic, outpatient assessment, support for management of residential care facilities for the mildly ill, support for elderly care facilities, and an antibody cocktail center, to minimize deaths due to COVID-19. In residential care facilities for the mildly ill and others in need of medical support, we established an information sharing and house call system. Furthermore, we developed DX in cooperation with a wide-area IT system and have so far continued to achieve zero fatalities in residential care facilities. In addition, the Japanese Society for Oriental Medicine has conducted clinical research using Kampo medicine for the prevention of disease onset, treatment in the acute stage, and treatment of prolonged symptoms, with results suggesting that Kampo medicine has some effect in reducing disease severity in the acute stage. The COVID-19 response is a long-term effort to update the knowledge and techniques in Western, traditional, and Future Medicine. The response and updating of combined knowledge and skills will continue over the longterm. It is also necessary to continue to disseminate and share information among various professions, and give back information in the field and make steady and continuous efforts among multiple professions.
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Kaiy (medieval cautery) is an ancient method of heat therapy in traditional Persian medicine (TPM). Some of its important applications have been neglected during the medical revolution. Meanwhile, different treatment modalities that incorporate heat, including moxibustion, have progressed in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we reviewed the main TPM textbooks that were written specifically in the field of kaiy. We considered the traditional teachings in the context of contemporary information, gathered from the scientific literature about moxibustion and modern cauterization. Some surgical therapeutic indications of kaiy (e.g., debridement and coagulative procedures) have been advanced by the innovation of electro-cauterization. However, those therapeutic applications that were based on the TPM humoral theory for relieving body coldness or myofascial pains-which are similar to moxibustion usages-have not received the same attention. Apart from the broad similarities of kaiy and moxibustion as thermal therapies with similar indications, there is a striking correspondence between kaiy point mapping and acupoints. Therefore, further research on different kaiy aspects is recommended. Please cite this article as: Jaladat AM, Alizadeh Vaghasloo M, Atarzadeh F, Ayati MH, Kazemi AH, Akin E, Hashempur MH. Similarities and differences between kaiy in Persian medicine and moxibustion in Chinese medicine. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4):354-360.
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Moxibustion/history , Acupuncture Therapy , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Acupuncture Points , Medicine, TraditionalABSTRACT
The clinical questions of acupuncture-moxibustion (Acup-Mox) guidelines are complicated, including not only the curative effect of Acup-Mox intervention measures, but also the operational elements of Acup-Mox. This paper aimed to put forward the idea and process of collecting clinical questions in developing international acupuncture clinical practice guidelines. The experience was collected and the idea of collecting clinical questions of Acup-Mox was formed through expert consultation and discussion in combination with expert opinions. Based on the characteristics of Acup-Mox discipline. This paper put forward the thinking of collecting elements of clinical questions following the intervention-population-outcome-control (I-P-O-C) inquiry process, according to the discipline of Acup-Mox. It was emphasized that in the process of collecting clinical questions, "treatable population" and "alleviable outcome indicators" for a specific Acup-Mox intervention with certain therapeutic effect should be focused on, so as to highlight the pertinence of clinical questions of Acup-Mox guidelines in terms of population and outcome elements.
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Moxibustion , Acupuncture Therapy , AcupunctureABSTRACT
The patents of acupuncture and moxibustion in China and abroad was analyzed, aiming to provide support for the innovative development of acupuncture industry. With the China Think Tank of Patent of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the PatSnap database as data sources, based on the mathematical statistics method, the application trend, legal status, patent types, transformation and distribution of major technical fields of acupuncture patents in China and abroad were analyzed. As a result, a total of 53,422 acupuncture patents were screened, involving 49 countries and 4 organizations. The patent types were mainly utility model patents. Although the application number of acupuncture patent had increased rapidly, the average patent conversion rate was generally low, approximately 4%. In the context of global economic integration, the acupuncture industry is developing at a high speed. It is suggested to take advantage of the "Belt and Road Initiative" to improve the international acceptance of acupuncture and moxibustion, adhere to the principle of attaching equal importance to the number and quality of patents, promote the in-depth cooperation of industry-university-research, and promote high-quality development of acupuncture and moxibustion.
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Humans , Moxibustion , Acupuncture Therapy , China , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Databases, FactualABSTRACT
The development status of the first 11 inheritance studios of acupuncture and moxibustion academic schools is summarized. Aiming at the current problems, it is suggested to establish qualitative and quantitative evaluation standards and establish a fair and reasonable evaluation system, build a systematic scientific theory and excavate the inherent laws of the schools, implement standardized management of the schools and protect the personalized characteristics of the schools, open outpatient clinic of acupuncture and moxibustion schools and promote the characteristic diagnosis and treatment technology, to promote the inheritance and development of acupuncture and moxibustion academic schools.
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Moxibustion , Acupuncture Therapy , SchoolsABSTRACT
The cases of feeling comfort during acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in literature were summarized and its biological basis was explored. A simple classification of comfort was made, and the importance of obtaining comfort in acupuncture treatment was pointed out. Considering the pursuit of less pain and harmlessness in modern clinical treatment, sugar needle should be advocated and popularized in current clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion.
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Sugars , Moxibustion , Acupuncture Therapy , Emotions , NeedlesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of moxibustion on the ultrastructure of synovial cells of knee joint and serum cytokines in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats, and to explore the potential mechanism of moxibustion in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.@*METHODS@#Forty-five Wistar male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a moxibustion group, with 15 rats in each group. In the model group and the moxibustion group, the AA model was replicated under wind, cold and humid environment and by injection with complete freund's adjuvant. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) was used, 20 min each time, once daily, for consecutive 21 days. In the normal group and the model group, no intervention was processed. The scores of the knee joint swelling degree (JSD) and arthritis index (AI) were compared among groups. The ultrastructure of synovial cells of knee joint were observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The levels of serum cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interieukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 were detected using ELISA method.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the normal group, JSD and AI scores, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were increased (P<0.01), while IL-10 was reduced (P<0.01) in the model group after intervention. JSD and AI scores, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were lower (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the level of IL-10 was higher (P<0.01) in the moxibustion group compared with the model group. Compared with the normal group, the ultrastructure of synovial cell was obviously damaged in the model group, and the damage was attenuated in the moxibustion group compared with the model group.@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion can reduce the symptoms of arthritis in AA rats, which may be related to the improvement of the ultrastructure of synovial cells and the regulation of cytokines.