title: Three Cases of Cutaneous Warts Treated With Moxibustion.
abstract: Moxibustion is a treatment that uses thermal stimulation generated when herbal materials are burned, indirectly or directly, on the affected area or acupoint. Three cases are presented to report the efficacy of direct moxibustion on cutaneous warts. Three patients with chronic cutaneous warts received direct moxibustion made of Artemisia argyi (Dongbang Inc., Chungnam, Korea). Moxa burning was performed using moxa cones. Approximately 80% of a cone was burned, until patients reported feeling a burning sensation, at which time the cone was removed and another one burned. As part of this approach, patients underwent 5-19 moxibustion procedures during and after wart removal. After warts were completely eliminated, moxa burning was performed on each patient until approximately 60% of a cone was burned or the patient felt heat sensitization but no pain. In these cases, moxibustion seemed to have an effect on cutaneous warts. A possible mechanism is that direct moxibustion likely induces tissue damage from burning and, subsequently, a wound healing effect at a different temperature level. Our reports suggest that it would be worthwhile to conduct further studies on the safety and efficacy of moxibustion on warts or to develop a medical device that uses modified moxibustion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Otorhinolaryngology & Dermatology of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Younghee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Amar Clinic of Korean Medicine, Pusan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sangho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Otorhinolaryngology & Dermatology of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine and Center for Clinical Research and Drug Development, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Otorhinolaryngology & Dermatology of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: inhwajun@khnmc.or.kr.
authors.forename: Inhwa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D019306:Artemisia; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin; D014860:Warts / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: case report; cutaneous warts; moxibustion; warts