title: Changes in peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations after direct moxibustion.
abstract: We measured peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations after direct moxibustion using moxa cones the size of a half-rice grain. In humans at 2 hrs after the direct moxibustion, NK cell percentage decreased and CD4/CD8 ratio increased significantly. Although the same trends were observed in the control session, those changes were not statistically significant. In rabbits at 3 and 12 hrs after direct moxibustion, CD4/CD8 ratio significantly increased, and recovered at between 24 and 72 hrs after treatment. Similarly, the CD4/CD8 ratio significantly increased in the control session, but they seemed to have a shorter duration. Although it is not yet clear whether the effects are beneficial, we found that direct moxibustion influences the immune system at least transiently.
authors.affiliation: Tsukuba College of Technology Clinic, Tsukuba City, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ichiman
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD