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Journal of Integrative Medicine ›› 2014, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (3): 131-134.doi: 10.1016/S2095-4964(14)60024-8

• Review •     Next Articles

Can moxibustion, an ancient treatment modality, be evaluated in a double-blind randomized controlled trial? — A narrative review

Bai-xiao Zhaoa, Hai-Yong Chenb, Xue-yong Shenc, Lixing Laoa,b,d   

  1. a School of Acupuncture, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
    b School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    c College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
    d Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA
  • Received:2014-04-04 Accepted:2014-04-15 Online:2014-05-10 Published:2014-05-15

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For thousands of years, moxibustion has been used for various diseases in China and other Asian countries. Despite the recent surge in Chinese herbal studies, few randomized controlled trials have been conducted on this modality, possibly due to the lacking of suitable double blinding methodology. This is a review of extant sham moxa devices and an introduction to a recently developed device that needs further validation.

Key words: Moxibustion, Direct moxibustion, Indirect moxibustion, Randomized controlled trial, Reviews

Figure 1

Real and sham moxa devices by Zhao et al[13]The sham device has a thermal-insulating plate."

"

Figure 2

Zhao’s modified moxa device and proposed sham moxa device(A) The new moxa device developed by Professor Zhao. (B) The proposed sham moxa device with smaller air-pores to lower therapeutic temperature."

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