Effects of moxibusting Point Kuan-Yuan on cardiovascular and renal responses to histamine-induced shock.

Moxibustion of the Point Kuan-Yuan is said by some Chinese herb doctors to have "anti-shock" effect. Using histamine-induced shock in anesthetized dogs, we studied the cardiovascular and renal effects of moxibusting Point Kuan-Yuan. We found that it significantly increased cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and mean blood pressure but it did not significantly increase heart rate. Moxibustion also significantly increased renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, urine flow, and Na+ Cl-K+ excretions. Whether moxibusting Kuan-Yuan may be useful as an adjunct in treating clinical shocks deserves more extensive studies in well-controlled clinical situations. It may also be helpful in clinical situations in which elevation of the sympathetic activity may be beneficial.