Objective. This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods. This study was a pilot randomized controlled trial, which was conducted with cooperation between Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM), China, and Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS), Iran. Forty participants with CIPN were randomly assigned (1 : 1) to receive twelve sessions of acupuncture (20 minutes each session over 4 weeks) or take one 300 mg tablet of vitamin B1 and three 300 mg capsules of gabapentin per day for 4 weeks, after which both groups were followed up for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was CIPN symptom severity measured by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The secondary endpoints included sensory neuropathy grade evaluated by the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE), neurophysiological assessment of CIPN by the nerve conduction study (NCS), and the patient overall satisfaction with treatment. Safety was assessed at each visit. Results. The NRS and NCI-CTCAE sensory neuropathy grading scales decreased significantly over time in both groups (both P<0.001), with a significantly higher reduction in the acupuncture group (P<0.001 and P=0.03, respectively). In addition, the acupuncture group showed a higher overall satisfaction with the treatment at the end of treatment and after 4 weeks follow-up, in comparison with the vit B1 and gabapentin group (P=0.01 and P=0.001, respectively). The NCS (except for the latency of the sural nerve) in the acupuncture group improved significantly (P<0.05), while improvement in the vit B1 and gabapentin group was not observed (P>0.05). Conclusion. Our study revealed that acupuncture, as a kind of traditional Chinese therapeutic method, is significantly effective and safe in the treatment of CIPN. Moreover, acupuncture is more effective than using vitamin B1 and gabapentin as the conventional treatment. Trial registration. This trial is registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20190615043900N1).

Moxibustion is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It achieved higher level of recognition and had more general application in ancient times than in contemporary life. As the vital historical sources, the records of unearthed literatures offered precious insights to Chinese social life pattern and medical practice in Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC–220 AD). There was no surprise that the bamboo and silk documents excavated from Mawangdui (马王堆) tomb, Hantanpo (旱滩坡) tomb, and other relics had a large amount of texts relevant to moxibustion. This research sorted moxibustion recordings from seven unearthed literatures and discovered that moxibustion had been developed into different modalities and utilized to treat many diseases at that time. In addition, the indications, contraindications of moxibustion, and the method of postmoxibustion care were also discussed. On this basis, some hints were provided to support the hypothesis that the practice of moxibustion led to the discovery of meridians. All our preliminary results in the research have drawn attention for this old therapy and given a new source for its application in clinic and scientific research.

Acupuncture and moxibustion are more integrated in the Chinese healthcare system than in the national healthcare systems of other countries. Development of acupuncture and moxibustion in China is making progress in this field. For overseas researchers, this commentary offers perspectives on the current status of acupuncture and moxibustion in China and examines relevant opportunities and challenges in healthcare reforms. There has been a steady increase in the number of undergraduates and postgraduates studying acupuncture and moxibustion in Chinese Medicine (CM) universities in China over the past decade. The legislation of CM physicians that was established in 1999 and the launch of continuing medical education in CM in 2002 have ensured the basic competency of practitioners. The Chinese Government has also shown support for CM development by increasing investment in related fields of research and administration. New challenges have emerged as the healthcare landscape in China has evolved over the past decade. It is important to harness the potential of acupuncture and moxibustion to create a value-driven healthcare system that meets the health needs of a rapidly aging society.

As one of the important treatments of health care and anti-aging in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), moxibustion has been proved to have the effects of scavenging free radicals, anti-oxidation, reducing inflammatory reaction, regulating immunity and so on. Recent studies have shown that intestinal microbiota affect the process of aging. The relationship between aging, moxibustion and intestinal microbiota is still unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of moxibustion at Guanyuan (RN4) acupoint on intestinal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids and immunological characteristics of young and elder female Wistar rats to explore the relationship between aging, moxibustion and intestinal microbiota. Six 12-week-old female Wistar rats were young group (Y), and twelve 36-week-old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into elder group (C) and moxibustion group (M). The rats in M group were received mild moxibustion at Guanyuan (RN4) acupoint, 20 min/d for 40 days. The rats in Y group and C group were not given any therapeutic intervention. The results showed that moxibustion increased the abundance of intestinal probiotics (mainly Lactobacillus) and the level of short chain fatty acids, the microcirculation blood flow around Guanyuan (RN4) acupoint was also significantly improved in elder rats. In addition, the expression of MyD88, MAPK, TRAF6, NF-κB in intestinal tissue was down-regulated, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in intestinal were decreased.

Objectives. To investigate the anti-aging effects of moxa smoke on SAMP8 mice.Methods. Using2×3factorial design, exposure length (15 or 30 minutes daily), and concentration (low, 5–15 mg/m³; middle, 25–35 mg/m³; high, 85–95 mg/m³), 70 SAMP8 mice were randomly assigned,n=10/group, to a model group or one of six moxa smoke groups: L₁, L₂, M₁, M₂, H₁, or H₂. Ten SAMR1 mice were used as normal control. Mice in moxa smoke groups were exposed to moxa smoke at respective concentrations and exposure lengths; the model and normal control mice were not exposed. Cerebral 5-HT, DA, and NE levels were determined using ELISA.Results. Compared to normal control, the model group showed a significant decrease in 5-HT, DA, and NE. Compared to model group, 5-HT and NE were significantly higher in groups L₂, M₁, and M₂and DA was significantly so in L₂and M₁. 5-HT, DA, and NE levels were the highest in group M₁among moxa smoke groups. A marked exposure length × concentration interaction was observed for 5-HT, DA, and NE.Conclusion. Moxa smoke increases monoamine neurotransmitter levels, which varies according to concentration and exposure length. Our finding suggests that the middle concentration of moxa smoke for 15 minutes seems the most beneficial.

Background: Upper extremity pain disorder and motor impairment (UE-PDMI) in patients with stage I post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) is a common neurological comorbidity. Current interventions are with effect limitations or side effects. Moxibustion is utilized as an integrative treatment for UE-PDMI. A novel meta-analysis should be performed due to the increasing number of relevant randomized controlled trials published recently. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion treatment for UE-PDMI.Methods: Eight databases, including the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SinoMed database, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) and WanFang database, were systematically searched, from their inception through May 15 2024, to identify potentially relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on moxibustion for UE-PDMI in SHS patients. The data from the eligible RCTs was extracted by two independent investigators. The RevMan software (version 5.4.1) was employed for conducting the meta-analysis. The online GRADEpro tool was applied for rating the quality of evidence.Results: A total of 32 RCTs, involving 2,814 patients with UE-PDMI, were included. The favorable results were considered to be reflected by reduced scores on a visual analog scale (VAS) (mean difference [MD] = −1.68, 95% CI − 2.08, −1.28, p < 0.05), improved scores on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE, MD = 8.76, 95% CI: 7.00, 10.53, p < 0.05), higher scores on the modified Barthel index (MBI, MD = 10.27, 95% CI: 6.16, 14.34, p < 0.05) or Barthel index (BI, MD = 8.06, 95% CI: 6.20, 9.91, p < 0.05), and lower scores for functional impairment on National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS, MD = −2.34, 95% CI: −2.96, −1.72, p < 0.05) when moxibustion was combined with rehabilitation training (RT), in contrast to control groups that implemented RT alone. The better total effective rates (TERs) were achieved when moxibustion was combined with RT (risk ratio [RR] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.21, 1.33, p < 0.05) or with western medicine (RR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.35, p = 0.02) in comparisons to corresponding control groups. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) between corresponding experimental and control groups (RR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.63, 4.16, p > 0.05).Conclusion: This study demonstrates that moxibustion as an adjuvant therapy may play a positive role in relieving pain and improving upper extremity motor function for patients with stage I SHS, given its convenience in generating prolonged effects in communities. However, a larger number of rigorously designed, pre-registered RCTs are highly needed to verify its clinical efficacy with a higher level of certainty.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier [CRD42024601605].