Abstract
Objectives : The warm needling technique is a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion. The purpose of this study was to find the physical and thermal characteristics in order to identify the effects and mechanisms of the warm needling technique. Methods : In this study, the thermal changes were observed with a testo 845 device, which is an infra-red thermometer specifically designed for measuring a combustion of corn shaped moxibustion(moxa-corn). The thermal changes at the apex of the moxa-corn placed on the top of the an acupuncture were observed at the level of 1 cm and 2 cm from the apex to understand heat conduction through acupuncture needle for combustion of moxa-corn. Results and Conclusions : The thermal conduction through acupuncture needle from the moxa-corn was relative to the weight of moxa-corn and was inversely relative to the distance of the moxa-corn and acupuncture needle length. And the value of thermal conduction to the apex of the acupuncture needle from the moxa-corn was about $3{\sim}5^{\circ}C$. The above results suggest that the present study may be useful in finding the mechanism and effects of the warming needling technique.
