Table 1.
Summary of the randomized clinical studies of moxibustion for hypertension
| First author (year) | Mean age or ranges (years) Sex (M/F) Duration of disease (years) |
Intervention (regimen) | Control (regimen) | Main outcomes | Intergroup difference | Treated acupuncture points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jin (2008) [21] |
Moxa: 46.5 (19/11); 5.3 Cont: 47.4 (16/14); 6.2 |
Moxa (30 min, once daily for 10 days, n = 30) Direct (a multifunctional apparatus for moxibustion without smoke), non-suppurative |
Antihypertensive drugs (enalapril 10 mg 1 T qd for 10 days, n = 30) | 1) Response rate (BP) 2) Response rate (Symptoms: headache, dizziness and insomnia) |
1) NS, RR, 1.04 [0.82, 1.32] 2) NS, RR, 1.20 [0.88, 1.64] |
GV20, PC6, CV4, ST36, KI1 |
| Zhang (2007) [22] |
Moxa: 18-72 (16/14); 2-8 Cont: 35-69 (11/10); 2-16 |
Moxa (2 hr, 2 times weekly for 1 month, total 10 times, n = 30) Indirect, non-suppurative |
Antihypertensive drugs (Various doses of amlodipine from 2.5 mg to 10 mg, qd for 1 month, n = 30) | 1) Response rate (BP) 2) Response rate (Symptoms: headache, dizziness and insomnia) |
(1) NS, RR, 0.86 [0.63, 1.18] (2) NS, RR, 1.26 [0.94, 1.69] |
CV8 |
| Deng (2002) [23] |
Moxa: 58.3 (16/14); n.r. Cont: 58.3 (13/17); n.r. |
Moxa (n.r. once, n = 30), plus (B) Direct, suppurative |
Antihypertensive drugs (Nifedipine sustained release tablet 10 mg bid for 50 days) | 1) SBP 2) DBP |
1) P < 0.001 (after 30 min) MD, 13.65 [11.54, 15.76]; P < 0.001 (at 50 days) MD, 17.4 [14.14, 20.66] 2) P < 0.001(after 30 min) MD, 8.7 [7.07, 9.28] P < 0.001 (at 50 days) MD, 13.12 [14.14, 20.66] |
GB39, ST36 |
| Kim (2005) [24] |
Moxa: 61.5 (9/21); n.r. Cont: 66.1 (11/20); n.r. |
Moxa (5 times for 2 hours, once, n = 30) Direct, non-suppurative |
No treatment (n = 31) | 1) SBP 2) DBP |
1) NS (after 30 min) MD, -1.67[-5.91, 2.57] P < 0.001(after 60 min) MD, 5.28 [1.14, 9.42] P < 0.001 (after 90 min) MD, 9.35 [5.12, 13.58] P < 0.001 (after 120 min) MD, 10.75 [6.48, 15.02] 2) NS (after 30 min) MD, -0.62 [-2.63, 1.39] NS (after 60 min) MD, 1.06 [-1.13, 3.25] NS (after 90 min) MD, 1.04 [-1.24, 3.32] NS (after 120 min) MD, 2.44 [-0.19, 5.07] |
ST36 (Men, left; women, right) |
Moxa: moxibustion; nr: not reported; BP: blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; SBP: systolic blood pressure; RR: risk ratio; MD: weighted mean difference; NS: no significant difference