Comparison of the Effects of Traditional Box-Moxibustion and Eletrothermal Bian-Stone Moxibustion on Volume of Blood Flow in the Skin

Objective: To investigate and compare the effects of Electrothermal Bian-stone moxibustion and traditional box-moxibustion on capillary blood perfusion in the body surface. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects, 18 females and 2 males, aged averagely 36 years, were enrolled in this experiment. The traditional box-moxibustion and electrothermal Bian-stone moxibustion were respectively given on the hypogastrium around Guanyuan (CV 4), and the changes of local capillary blood perfusion in the body surface were investigated with Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging (LDPI). Results: The traditional box-moxibustion was superior to the electrothermal Bian-stone moxibustion in the transient increasing effect in whole body and the long-term increasing effect in the local area of moxibustion on capillary blood perfusion; but for both methods, the increasing effect on the capillary blood perfusion in the local area of moxibustion was same. Conclusion: Electrothermal Bian-stone moxibustion can not completely take the place of the traditional box-moxibustion; but for some disorders with local pain, they possibly have the same effects.