This study was done to examine the effects of moxibustion on physiological indices, such as 24-hr blood pressure, pulse pressure, and pulse rate, and autonomic nervous symptoms among adults with prehypertension.

Participants were adults whose systolic and diastolic blood pressures were in the prehypertension stage and were not under treatment for the condition. Both experimental and control group consisted of 13 participants who were taking classes on acupuncture and moxibustion at a private institute. The experimental group received moxibustion once a day for 15 min, at least 5 days a week for 8 weeks. The results were analyzed using χ²-test, t-test, Fisher's exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test and repeated measures ANOVA with the SAS program. Bonferroni correction method was adopted for multiple comparisons.

No significant change was observed in the 24-hr systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups. Differences in the 24-hr pulse pressure and pulse rate were also not significant. However, significant decreases in headache, symptoms of flushing and fatigue were observed in the experimental group.

The results suggest that moxibustion contributes to alleviating symptoms such as headache, flushing and fatigue associated with the autonomic nervous system among adults with prehypertension.

The purpose of this research was to test the effects of ST35 & Sulan moxibustion on knee joint pain, range of motion, and discomfort during Activies of Daily Living (ADL) in elderly with knee joint pain.

A nonequivalent control group pre-post test research design was used. Thirty four elderly who had knee joint pain were studied. Of them, sixteen were in the experimental group and eighteen the control group. The instruments used for this study were NRS, goniometer, and a modified ADL questionnaire developed by Lee.

The pain scores of right & left knee joint after moxibustion were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group (Right: F=26.27, p=0.000, Left: F=20.77, p=0.000). Right and left knee ROM scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after moxibustion (Right: F=10.74, p=0.003, Left: F=9.239, p=0.005). Discomfort during ADL scores were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group after moxibustion (F= 32.31, p=0.000).

It is necessary that nurses provide the elderly with knee joint pain with moxibustion to reduce joint pain and to increase knee ROM as an alternative therapy.