This blog is to share the latest research and development of acupuncture and raise the awareness of alternative treatments for your conditions, and is for information only.

Thursday, 5 February 2015

Moxibustion improved bladder function in multiple system atrophy

Moxibustion performed at specific acupoints significantly decreased nocturnal urine output of a patient with multiple system atrophy (MSA). A case report was published in the journal of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Ryuji Sakakibara and colleagues in the Chiba University of Japan reported a case study of therapeutic effect of moxibustion on autonomic symptoms of MSA. A 65-year-old man diagnosed as MSA-parkinsonian form. He had urinary urgency but failed to evacuate his bladder properly. Although his daytime urine output was 300ml, his nighttime urine output was 2000ml. Biochemical test found that plasma levels of circadian arginine vasopressin rhythm (C-AVP-R) was significantly decreased in nighttime. Moxibustion was performed at specific acupoints such as Ren3, ST30, SP6 and KI5 once a day, 3 times a week for 6 months. Two months following moxibustion, nighttime urine output ratio gradually decreased to 87%, and it reached 75% by the end of 6-month treatment. Nighttime plasma levels of C-AVP-R were normalized by the end of treatment.

This case report suggests that moxibustion is able to improve bladder function by normalizing disturbed C-AVP-R levels in patient with MSA.

Reference:
Sakakibara R et al., Moxibustion, an alternative therapy, ameliorated disturbed circadian rhythm of plasma arginine vasopressin and urine output in multiple system atrophy. Intern Med. 2007;46(13):1015-8.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17603243

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