Effect of Meridian Moxibustion Combined with Warming Moxibustion on the Rehabilitation of Ischemic Stroke Patients

  OBJECTIVE  To observe the effect of meridian moxibustion on the rehabilitation of patients with ischemic stroke.

  METHODS  A total of 92 patients with ischemic stroke were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group of 46 cases each. The control group was given conventional treatment (anti-platelet aggregation, antihypertensive, glucose-reducing, lipid-lowering and cerebral protection), while the experimental group was given the meridian moxibustion intervention on top of this. The efficacy of the treatment was evaluated in both groups before (T₀), 7 days after (T₁), 14 days after (T₂) and 28 days after (T₃) using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), activities of daily living (BI index) and simplified Fugl-Meyer motor assessments (FMA). Besides, serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1) were measured by ELISA and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) by immunity transmission turbidity before and after treatment.

  RESULTS  After treatment, The NIHSS score decreased with statistical differences in the control group at time points of T₂, T₃ and in the treatment group at time points of T₁, T₂, T₃ (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The BI score increased significantly in the control group at time points of T₁, T₂, T₃ and in the treatment group at time points of T₂, T₃ (P < 0.01). At time points of T₂ and T₃, Better NIHSS score and BI score were seen in the treatment group than those in the control group with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Both groups had significantly increased FMA scores (P < 0.01) and the treatment group was better than the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In addition, serum VEGF and Ang-1 were increased and serum hs-CRP was decreased in both groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), the serum VEGF level in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01), and the hs-CRP level was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

  CONCLUSION  Meridian moxibustion can improve neurological function, enhance the ability of daily living activities, and promote limb rehabilitation in patients with ischemic stroke. The therapeutic effects may be related to regulating vascular growth factor expression and reducing the inflammatory response.