Effects of Non-combustible moxibustion on Thermography of Healthy Human Beings

비연소식(非燃燒式) 구법(灸法) 재료(材料)를 이용한 온열자극(溫熱刺戟)이 체열방사(體熱放射)에 미치는 효과

Objectives : Moxibustion has been become very useful tool to prevent and treat various diseases with acupuncture in oriental medicine. Expecially, moxibustion combining the heat stimulation and chemical stimulation of Artemisiae Argyi has a non-invasive characteristics comparing to the other therapeutic tools. However, because the moxibustion makes the patient's skin be burn by the combustible feature of moxibustion, most of people have been scared of being scald. Methods : In this study, we have developed new non-combustible moxibustion tools in collaboration with company (Hana Medical, co. and ICURE, co.) and tested the efficacy through effects of moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ on the abdominal thermography of health subject. The non-combustible moxibustion has main characteristics of controlled heating to inhibit being scald and heat stimulation lasting over 1 hrs. Also, to induce the chemical stimulation, the bottom contacting with skin was coated by the extract of artemisiae argyi. The volunteers who participating in this study had taken rest for 20 - 30 mins in room temperature $(23-25^{\circ}C)$ before the examination and informed them what to prohibit smoking, drinking and administration of drug for the previous day The thermography of abdomen including a below part of the chest was taken using Infra-Red Imaging System (IR 2000, MEDI-CORE Co., Korea) by time interval of 15 minutes. Results : The results showed that moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ had more potencies of changes on all the ROIs of abdominal thermography than those of control group. Also, it was observed that the quantities of thermal changes following moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ been increased significantly comparing that of control group at all the ROIs (region of interest). Observed the thermography classified by ROI, however, moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ could modulate ipsilateral specific areas concerning to the abdominal pathway of Stomach Meridian. Conclusion : These results suggest that new non-combustible moxibusion has some similarity as like as the conventional moxibustion and moxibustion of Cheon-chu $(ST_{25})$ may modulate thermal changes of abdominal areas.