Objective: To explore the temperature field distribution and variation rules during treatment with mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion of TCM.
Methods: Six healthy subjects were selected. Mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion were exerted at Zusanli (ST 36) respectively, for 25 min. Using infrared thermal imaging instrument, the temperature field distribution was measured during moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The simulated thermometer was adopted to measure the temperature field distribution during moxibustion at the imitated cortex. At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the temperature field distribution generated by moxibustion was observed at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36) separately. The temperature values were collected at the sites 0.7, 2.1 and 3.5 cm far from the center of the moxibustion-exerted places successively, and then the characteristics of temperature field distribution and variation rules were compared between different moxibustion methods at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36).
Results: At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), the temperature field distribution focused on the center of moxibustion-exerted site and the temperature was reduced to all directions and illustrated as a curved surface graph, whereas, the temperature field distribution at the imitated cortex was consistent with that at Zusanli (ST 36). With mild moxibustion, the temperature field was distributed uniformly along the longitudinal temperature gradient; whereas, with sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the longitudinal temperature of the temperature field was greatly different, in which, the maximum temperature and the average temperature were higher than those with mild moxibustion respectively and the first time up to the peak value of sparrow-pecking moxibustion was shorter than that with mild moxibustion. The thermal transfer was presented at the non-moxibustion exerted areas during the moxibustion experiment at Zusanli (ST 36).
Conclusion: A distance feature is presented in the temperature field measured by simulated thermometer and generated under suspension moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The warm stimulation effect of sparrow-pecking moxibustion is much more obvious at the moxibustion-exerted center as compared with mild moxibustion and the area of warm stimulation generated by sparrow-pecking moxibustion is more concentrated as compared with mild moxibustion. The radiation energy produced by suspension moxibustion is scattered and attenuated in skin tissue, resulting in a certain temperature gradient in the temperature field. The warm stimulation generated at skin surface by moxibustion has a warming-dredging effect.
目的：探索中医传统灸法温和灸和雀啄灸治疗过程中的温度场分布和变化规律。方法：选取健康受试者6名，分别予足三里穴温和灸和雀啄灸，时间为25 min，采用红外热成像仪监测足三里穴施灸过程中的温度场分布，并采用仿真测温仪监测模拟皮层施灸过程中的温度场分布，观察温和灸和雀啄灸第20 min时模拟皮层和受试者足三里穴产生的温度场分布，并选取距离施灸中心半径0.7、2.1、3.5 cm的温度值，比较模拟皮层和足三里穴在不同悬起灸法下的温度场分布特点和变化规律。结果：温和灸和雀啄灸20 min时，足三里穴的温度场皆为以施灸点为中心、温度向四周方向递减的曲面图；模拟皮层的温度场与足三里穴施灸所形成的温度场特点一致；温和灸形成的温度场沿纵向的温度梯度分布均匀；雀啄灸温度场的纵向温度则相差悬殊，其最高温度和平均温度均较温和灸高，且第1次到达峰值时间比温和灸短；在足三里施灸实验的非施灸区域存在热量传递。结论：仿真测温仪和足三里穴在悬起灸法下产生的温度场存在距离特征，但雀啄灸较温和灸对施灸中心的温热刺激作用更明显，产生温热刺激的区域比温和灸更集中；悬起灸产生的辐射能量在皮肤组织中散射衰减，导致温度场存在一定的温度梯度；艾灸产生的温热刺激在皮肤表层中有温通效应。.
Keywords: mild moxibustion; moxibustion; sparrow-pecking moxibustion; temperature field distribution.