[Effect of umbilicus moxibustion therapy on physical conditions of yang-deficiency volunteers].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the therapeutic effect of umbilicus moxibustion for sub-health people with yang-deficiency constitution.


METHODS
Sixty sub-health volunteers with yang-deficiency constitution were equally and randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The subjects of the two groups were treated conventionally with Jingui Shenqi Pill (Goldern Chamber Pill for strengthening the Kidney-qi), 8 pills each time, 3 times a day. Additionally, those subjects of the treatment group were also treated by moxibustion over the umbilicus, twice a week, 3 months altogether. The integrative score was assessed before and after the treatment in accordance with the criteria of "Quantization Diagnosis of Chinese Medicine".


RESULTS
After umbilicus moxibustion intervention for 3 months, the integrative scores of symptoms of mental fatigue, cold limbs and warmth preference, lassitude in loin and limbs, and loose stool were decreased significantly in the treatment group (P < 0.05), suggesting an improvement of these symptoms and being superior to those of the control group in the curative effect (P < 0.05). Simple Jingui Shenqi Pill treatment was also effective in reducing scores of cold limbs and warmth preference, and lassitude in loin and legs after the treatment (P < 0.05). Of the two 30 cases in the treatment and control groups, 18 (60.0%) and 7 (23.3%) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 10 (33.3%) and 12 (40.0%) had an improvement, 2 (6.7%) and 11 (36.7%) were failed, with the effective rates being 93.3% and 63.3%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Umbilicus moxibustion therapy can effectively improve clinical symptoms of sub-health subjects with yang-deficiency constitution.
Center for Preventive Treatment of Illnesses, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, China. 9zwb@163.com
Yong-Yan
YY
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion; D014472:Umbilicus; D016711:Yang Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal