title: Evaluation of different moxibustion doses for lumbar disc herniation: multicentre randomised controlled trial of heat-sensitive moxibustion therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is some evidence for the effectiveness of moxibustion for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), but it remains unclear what dose is optimal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of a new technique of individualised 'sensitivity elimination' dose versus a standardised 15 min dose in the treatment of LDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a multicentre (four centres in China), randomised, controlled trial with two parallel arms (group A, individualised sensitivity elimination dose; group B, standardised dose). The most heat-sensitised acupuncture point from the triangle bound by BL25 and GV2 was selected. Both groups received 18 sessions over 2 weeks. The outcome was evaluated by Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (M-JOA) score before and after treatment and at 6-month follow-up examination. All main analyses were by intention to treat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 96 patients were included. A signiﬁcant difference of total M-JOA score was noted between the groups at weeks 1 and 2 (p<0.05). Signiﬁcant differences were also evident during the follow-up period (p<0.01). The mean duration of moxibustion was 42.7±5.4 (range, 22-58) minutes in the experimental group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effectiveness of the individualised sensitivity elimination dose appears superior to the standardised dose in the treatment of LDH. Only 15 min moxibustion in the conventional dose group seemed insufficient to elicit the satisfactory clinical effects obtained by heat-sensitive moxibustion therapy. However, in view of some limitations of this study further research is necessary before this can be stated conclusively.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Controlled Clinical Trials: ChiCTR-TRC-09000602.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, Affiliated Hospital with Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mingren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rixin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Zhenhai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Tongsheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Meiqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion; D059408:Pain Management; D055815:Young Adult