title: [Effect of aconite cake-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) on thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects on thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis treated with aconite cake-separated moxibustion and option the better therapeutic program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five cases were randomly divided into a moxibustion group (42 cases) and a western medication group (43 cases). The moxibustion group was treated by aconite cake-separated moxibustion therapy with acupoints of two groups [(1) Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4); (2) Dazhui (GV 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4)] alternatively and oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. The western medication group was oral administration of 25 microg Euthyrox everyday. Indices of thyroid function before and after treatment and clinical effect were compared between two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical total effective rate and effective rate of thyroid function were 25.0% (10/40), 87.5% (35/40) in moxibustion group respectively, 7.53% (3/40) and 57.5% (23/40) in western medication group, with significant differences between two groups (both P < 0.05). Content of serum free thyroxine index (FT4) increased significantly in the moxibustion group after treatment (P < 0.01); content of serum supersensitive thyrotropin (S-TSH) in the moxibustion group was lower than that of western medication group, and contents of serum FT4 and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were higher than those of western medication group, but with no significant differences (all P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aconite cake-separated moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Mingmen (GV 4) combined with oral administration of Euthyrox can improve clinical symptoms and thyroid function in patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is better than simple oral administration of Euthyrox.
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Massage, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Ming-Zhe
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shi-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Jin-Sen
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D031841:Aconitum / Q000737:chemistry*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013972:Thyrotropin