[Clinical observation on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with cake-separated mild moxibustion combined with Western medicine].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect-increasing action of cake-separated mild moxibustion on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to probe a new method for RA.


METHODS
Sixty cases were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group (n=30) were treated with oral administration of methotrexate (MTX) as basic treatment, and non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) according to conditions of the patient. The treatment group (n=30) were treated with the same treatment as the control group, and Fuzi case-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) was added. They were treated for 3 months.


RESULTS
After treatment of 3 months, the total effective rate was 83.3% in the treatment group, which was higher than 60.0% in the control group (P < 0.05); there were significant differences before and after treatment in all indexes in the two groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); the ratio of the patients who completely withdrew NSAIDs in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); the rate of adverse reaction in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Fuzi cake-separated mild moxibustion can increase clinical therapeutic effect on RA and reduce dosage of NSAIDs.
Li
Jian-wu
JW
Wuhan City Hospital of TCM, Hubei 430014, China.
Liu
Jian-min
JM
Ma
Zhi-yi
ZY
Xiong
Yuan-yin
YY
Feng
Yan-bin
YB
Xiang
Shi-yu
SY
Zhang
Jun
J
Peng
Hua-zhen
HZ
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D006801:Humans; D009071:Moxibustion
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal