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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
Preliminary Study on Acupuncture Combined with Grain-sized Moxibustion for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Finger Joint Pain
Published on: May 16, 2025
Analgesic effect of different moxibustion durations in rheumatoid arthritis rats
Objective:
To observe the influence of different moxibustion durations on hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and prodynorphin (PDYN) mRNA expressions and plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) content in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats, to understand the mechanism of moxibustion analgesia and its dose-effect relationship.
Methods:
Twelve male Wistar rats were randomly selected from 48 male Wistar rats as a normal control group. The RA model was created by raising rats in a windy (blowing with electric fan), cold (6 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C), and wet (80%-90% humidity) environment for 20 days, 12 h each day. This was followed by injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (0.15 mL) into the ankle. Then, rats were randomly divided into a model group, moxibustion group I, and moxibustion group II, with 12 rats in each group. In moxibustion groups I and II, moxibustion was given at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 20 and 40 min, respectively, once daily for 15 days. Hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression levels and plasma beta-EP content were determined.
Results:
Compared with the normal group, the pressure pain threshold decreased, while the hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression levels and plasma beta-EP content increased in the moxibustion groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the pressure pain threshold, hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression levels and plasma beta-EP content in the moxibustion groups increased significantly (P < 0.01). Compared the moxibustion group I, the pain threshold, hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression levels and plasma beta-EP content in moxibustion group II significantly increased (P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Moxibustion has an analgesic effect and increases hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression levels and plasma beta-EP content in RA rats.The analgesic effect in moxibustion group II is betterthan that in moxibustion group I.
Insights
Moxibustion therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats enhances pain relief by increasing pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and prodynorphin (PDYN) mRNA expression and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) levels. Longer moxibustion durations show greater analgesic effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint pain and dysfunction.
- Moxibustion, a therapy involving burning mugwort, is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for pain relief.
- The analgesic mechanisms of moxibustion, particularly its effects on central pain pathways, require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying moxibustion durations on key molecular markers in the hypothalamus of RA rats.
- To determine the relationship between moxibustion duration and its analgesic efficacy in an RA model.
- To explore the role of hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression and plasma beta-EP in moxibustion-induced analgesia.
Main Methods:
- A rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rat model was established using a combination of environmental stress and Freund's complete adjuvant injection.
- Rats were divided into a control group, a model group, and two moxibustion groups receiving treatment for 20 or 40 minutes daily for 15 days.
- Hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and prodynorphin (PDYN) mRNA levels and plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) concentrations were measured.
Main Results:
- Moxibustion treatment significantly increased the pressure pain threshold in RA rats compared to the model group.
- Both moxibustion durations led to elevated hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression and plasma beta-EP content.
- The 40-minute moxibustion group demonstrated a more pronounced increase in these markers and pain threshold compared to the 20-minute group.
Conclusions:
- Moxibustion exerts a significant analgesic effect in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis.
- The analgesic mechanism involves the upregulation of hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA expression and increased plasma beta-EP.
- A longer duration of moxibustion (40 minutes) yields superior analgesic outcomes compared to a shorter duration (20 minutes).
