Various Moxibustion-methods In Addition To Pharmaceutical Therapy In Treatment Of Ra-patients:a Clinical Research

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease leading to chronic inflammation in the joints and subsequent destruction of the affected joint. Chinese Medicine categorizes this as a "Bi-syndrome", of which moxibustion has expressed clinical treatment results. This project aimed to collect clinical and basic laboratory index-data for joint-functions of RA-patients, treated with different moxibustion-methods.Method:A total of102RA-patients was included and treated from2010.03-2011.08. Comparing clinical results of joint functions and general health-condition, from four randomized groups. Three groups treated with either "maili-moxa"(30patients),"Wenhe-moxa"(30patients) or "Wenzhen-acupuncture"(18patients) in addition to conventional western and Chinese medicinal treatments, while one group was treated with singular pharmaceutical treatment (24patients). Statistical analysis was conducted through ANOVA, t-test and Chi-square/X2to determine significance of findings.Result:Collected index-values of both Clinical signs&symptoms and laboratory "6items immunology index", expressed different treatment-results according to treatment scheme. All the clinical signs&symptoms evaluation-indexes within each individual treatment-regime in this research, reached a statistical difference of P<0.05or higher."Maili-moxa"+pharmaceutical gave statistically significant results to improved "Grip strength","Morning stiffness" and "HAQ" results in RA-patients."Wenhe-moxa"+pharmaceutical treatment improved RA-patients subjective pain-sensation with statistical significance. Concerning laboratory treatment-results,"Maili-moxa"+Pharmaceutical treatment for ESR/CRP expressed superior results compared to all three other treatment-regimes in this study."Wenzhen-acupuncture"+Pharmaceutical treatment expressed superior treatment results for VAS-scores and Rheumatoid Factor (RF) compared to the other three treatment-schemes included in this research. Statistical differences in Lab-levels of IgG, and of HAQ-scores was expressed for the "Wenhe-moxa"+Pharmaceutical treatment scheme.Conclusions:1. Each individual treatment-regime in this research, gave adequate treatment-results of before/after index-values for treatment of RA. 2. All three moxa-methods in combination with pharmaceutical treatment, expressed statistically significant superior results to that of singular pharmaceutical treatment, in improving "Grip strength","Mornin stiffness" and "HAQ" results.3. Maili-moxa+Pharmaceutical treatment is favorable to all three other treatment-regimes in this study, for improvement of "Grip strength" and "Morning stiffness". This treatment scheme, also expressed superior results for improving edema in and n/swollen joints.4."Wenhe-moxa"+pharmaceutical treatment is superior in treatment-results for "Patient's health assessment" and "Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)", compared to singular pharmaceutical treatment (P<0.01) and "Maili-moxa"+pharmaceutical treatment (P<0.05)5."Maili-moxa"+Pharmaceutical treatment is superior to all other three treatment-regimes for improving ESR/CRP-factors in RA patients.6."Wenzhen-acupuncture"+Pharmaceutical treatment is favorable to all three other treatment-regimes i this study, in improving RF-levels and VAS-score for subjective pain-sensation in RA-patients.Frequent moxibustion of RA-patient, gives progressively a quicker expression of the immediate improvin; effect of joints. These patients also express enhanced general physical condition. Further and more detailed observations of differences between in-/out-patients and Chinese Medicine's diagnostic sub-patterns should be made.