Freire Anaflávia O, Sugai Gisele C M, Blanco Miriam M, Tabosa Angela, Yamamura Ysao, Mello Luiz Eugênio A M
Division of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
Dig Dis Sci. 2005 Feb;50(2):366-74. doi: 10.1007/s10620-005-1612-2.
This study was aimed at assessing the physical characteristics underlying the action of moxibustion at acupoints Ren-12 (Zhongwan), St-25 (Tianshu), and St-36 (Zuzanli) in preventing acute injuries of the gastric mucous membrane induced by indomethacin in Wistar rats. Induction of gastric lesions, by means of intragastric administration of indomethacin (100 mg/kg), in adult male Wistar rats was followed by treatment with moxibustion using Artemisia vulgaris dried leaves at 60 or 45 degrees C, heating with Artemisia vulgaris charcoal at 50 degrees C, heating with a regular tobacco cigar at 50 degrees C, and heating with a regular water pad at 50 degrees C, The effects of the different heating protocols over the gastric lesions were then compared. In addition, another group of animals was pretreated with capsaicin (100 mg/kg, s.c.), in order to lesion C fibers and, 15 days later, subjected to indomethacin administration and moxibustion treatment. Moxibustion was significantly more efficient at 60 degrees C than at 45 degrees C in preventing gastric lesions triggered by indomethacin. Moxibustion applied in acupoints provided a significant reduction of the lesion area, which was two times less than that of animals stimulated in a nonacupoint (sham group). Comparing the therapeutic effects provided by different forms of heating over the gastric lesions, the burning of dry leaves of Artemisia vulgaris was significantly more efficient in preventing gastric lesions than moxibustion made with Artemisia charcoal or tobacco (cigar) or by heating the animal with a water pad. Desensitization of the afferent sensory C fibers by capsaicin significantly diminished the ability of moxibustion to block the lesions in the gastric mucous membrane. Moxibustion can efficiently prevent indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in rats and this effect is dependent on the temperature, the material used for moxibustion, the use of acupuncture points, and the integrity of C fibers.
本研究旨在评估艾灸任脉12穴（中脘）、足阳明胃经25穴（天枢）和36穴（足三里）预防消炎痛诱导的Wistar大鼠胃黏膜急性损伤的物理特性。通过给成年雄性Wistar大鼠胃内注射消炎痛（100mg/kg）诱导胃损伤，随后分别用60℃或45℃的艾叶干叶进行艾灸治疗、50℃的艾炭加热治疗、50℃的普通雪茄加热治疗以及50℃的普通水垫加热治疗，然后比较不同加热方案对胃损伤的影响。此外，另一组动物预先皮下注射辣椒素（100mg/kg）以损伤C纤维，15天后进行消炎痛给药和艾灸治疗。在预防消炎痛引发的胃损伤方面，60℃艾灸比45℃艾灸显著更有效。穴位艾灸能显著减小损伤面积，比非穴位刺激动物（假手术组）的损伤面积小两倍。比较不同加热方式对胃损伤的治疗效果，艾叶干叶燃烧在预防胃损伤方面比艾炭或烟草（雪茄）艾灸或用水垫加热动物更有效。辣椒素使传入感觉C纤维脱敏显著降低了艾灸阻断胃黏膜损伤的能力。艾灸能有效预防大鼠消炎痛诱导的胃损伤，且这种效果取决于温度、艾灸所用材料、穴位的使用以及C纤维的完整性。
