[Graded-disease-spectrum of the nervous system of acu-moxibustion therapy was determined based on its clinical efficacy and by fuzzy comprehensive estimation technique].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the graded-disease-spectrum of the nervous system of acu-moxibustion treatment based on its clinical efficacy.

METHODS

We carried out a cross-sectional academic sample investigation on the graded-disease-spectrum of acu-moxibustion by collecting and analyzing data from the self-administered questionnaires which were completed by professional persons who have high-ranking professional titles (associate chief physicians and chief physicians) and are majoring in acupuncture and moxibustion. Then, the collected experts' opinions were analyzed by fuzzy comprehensive estimation technique and statistical processing.

RESULTS

A total of 58 medical conditions involving 4 grades and 126 subtypes were included and analyzed. The Grade I contains 14 subtypes as Bell's palsy (in the acute stage and convalescence stage), primary sciatic neuralgia, migraine (mild type and moderate type), etc. which can be relieved by using acu-moxibustion therapy only. The Grade II contains 53 subtypes, such as transient cerebral ischemic attack, acute cerebrovascular disease (in the convalescence stage and sequelae stage), chronic Bell's palsy (sequelae), Hunt's facial palsy, etc. which can be relieved by using acu-moxibustion as the main therapy. The Grade III contains 22 subtypes, such as acute stage of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (with coma and without coma), acute stage of hemorrhagic ischemic cerebrovascular disease (with coma and without coma), etc. which may be relieved to a certain degree by using acu-moxibustion as the supplementary or main therapy. The Grade IV contains 37 subtypes, such as Wohlfart-Kugelberg-Welander disease, myasthenia gravis (type III and type IV), myasthenia gravis of medicinal herbs resource, chorea major, etc. whose clinical effects are not known if treated with acu-moxibustion.

CONCLUSION

Acu-moxibustion therapy has apparent advantages in the treatment of different clinical conditions of the nervous system.