Clinical Study Of Yang Deficiency Type Sub-Health Condition Treated With Modified Long Snake Moxibustion

Objects:In this study, we discussed the mechanism of the modified long snake moxibustion and aimed to provide an convenient and effect therapy for Yang deficiency type sub-health condition.Methods:Seventy-two participants who met the inclusion criteria from preventive treatment department of disease center of Chengdu university of Traditional Chinese Medicine between July,2014 and March,2015, were enrolled and randomly assigned to treatment group (36 participants) and control group (36 participants). Participants from control group accepted infrared therapy on the first lateral line of Bladder meridian, while participants from treatment group received the modified long snake moxibustion at the same location. The therapy were offered once per week,4 times per treatment course. The scores changes of Yang deficiency of sub scale, Fatigue Scale (FS-14), WHO QOL-BREF, Self-Rating Depressive Scale(SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) of two groups were extracted and analyzed after treatments. The measurement data was analyzed by T test or Rank test, while count data by Chi square test, and all results were recorded by mean ± standard deviation.Results:Intra-group comparison:Scores of Yang deficiency of sub scale, SDS, SAS in both treatment and control groups revealed significant difference before and after intervention (P<0.05). The physical fatigue score and the total score of FS-14 were remarkably dropped after treatment, but the mental fatigue score remained almost the same. The subjective feeling, physiological status, appetite and self assessment scores of WHO QOL-BREF scale were improved significantly (P<0.05), while the social relation, environment and family contradiction showed no improvement(P>0.05).In treatment group, scores of subjective feeling and physiological status from WHO QOL-BREF were increased after four times of treatments(P<0.05). However, there were no statistical difference of these measurements in control group (P>0.05).Inter-group comparison:After intervention, scores of Yang deficiency of sub scale, physical fatigue score and the total score of FS-14, the subjective feeling, physical status, healthy status, physiological status, appetite and self assessment of WHO QOL-BREF scale, SDS, SAS in treatment group showed an significant improvement compared to control group(P<0.05). However, the social relation, environment and family contradiction scores of WHO QOL-BREF scale showed no improvement(P>0.05).Conclusions:1. The modified long snake moxibustion can effectively improve cold aversion, extreme chilliness and fatigue of participants with Yang deficiency type sub-health condition, and regulate Yang deficiency constitution;2. The modified long snake moxibustion was proved to enhance the life quality in multi-aspects, such as subjective feeling, physical status, psychological status, appetite and self assessment;3. The modified long snake moxibustion can improve the state of anxiety and depression of patients with Yang deficiency type sub-health condition;4. The modified long snake moxibustion therapy is an easy, effective therapy of treating Yang deficiency type sub-health condition without remarkable adverse event or side effect, and worth further clinical application.