[Method of Epidemiological Study on the Clinical Safety of Moxa Smoke]

With the development of moxibustion use, increasing attention has focused on the safety of moxa smoke. Evaluation of the safety of moxa smoke has now become an urgent problem in moxibustion clinical practice. An epidemiological study could provide direct evidence of the safety of moxa smoke, but has not yet been comprehensively and systematically studied. In the present paper, the authors discuss the research methods used in epidemiological studies of the clinical safety of moxa smoke and some key problems regarding definition of the exposed population, the determination of exposure outcome, the choice of psychological measuring tool and the assessment of exposure level.