Compared with acupuncture research, moxibustion research has made slow progress with great obstacles. With randomized controlled trials as the widely accepted gold standard for the evaluation of clinical effect, moxibustion therapy is facing a great challenge: how to establish a reasonable placebo control group. This article reviewed the current application of placebo moxibustion, analyzed the difficulties in setting up placebo moxibustion, and explored corresponding solutions, in order to attract more attention to moxibustion therapy among traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.
Keywords: Controlled setting; Moxibustion therapy; Necessity; Placebo moxibustion.