Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment at SP6(Sanyinjiao) on the temperature change of feet in healthy adults and evaluate whether SP6 has an effect on cold hypersensitivity of feet.
Methods: Subjects of this study were 61 healthy adults consisting of 21 in the acupuncture treatment group, 21 in the moxibustion treatment group and 19 in the control group, selected at random. After starting the experiment, the subjects laid straight on their back and relaxed for 30 minutes. Pictures were then taken of their feet by DITI 3 times before and after treatment. The treatment was carried out by either 15 minutes of acupuncture or 2 pieces of moxibustion at SP6. Whilst the control group rested lying straight. After taking pictures the temperatures of LR2, GB42, ST42, KI1, center of the plantar, and center of the calcaneus were checked and the SPSS for Windows Version 20.0 was used to evaluate the statistical significance by the paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test(in group) and the Mann-Whitney U-test(between the groups).
Results: Some temperature changes before and after treatment were observed in each of the 12 areas, most of which were not significant. But as a result of comparing the temperature difference of all the samples without dividing the area of each group, the mean temperatures in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were significantly elevated. A comparison between the groups showed the mean temperature of the acupuncture and moxibustion group to be significantly elevated, more so than the control group.
Conclusions: The result of this study suggests acupuncture and moxibustion treatment at SP6 has the effect of the rising temperature of feet temporarily.
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