title: [Observation on therapeutic effect of the spreading moxibustion on rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To search for an effective therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six cases of RA were randomly divided into a spreading moxibustion group of 31 cases and an acupuncture group of 25 cases. The spreading moxibustion group were treated by moxibustion on the Governor Vessel, from Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoshu (GV 2), and bilateral corresponding Jiaji (EX-B 2), with drug powder composed of Qianghuo (Notoperygium root), Duhuo (Pubescent angelica root), Niuxi (Achyranthes root), etc. and fresh mashed ginger were spread at the points; and the acupuncture group were treated by simple acupuncture at Dazhu (GV 14) and Shenzhu (GV 12), etc. They were treated for 50 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effective rate was 100.0% in the spreading moxibustion group and 84.0% in the acupuncture group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spreading moxibustion has an significant therapeutic effect on rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Physiotherapy, Gansu Hospital of Medicine and Health Care of Cadres, Lanzhou 730020, China. xie6761@126.com
authors.forename: Xiao-Xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Qiu-Hui
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal