Researchers from China’s Southern Medical University and Hospital of Integrated Chinese have determined that moxibustion applied to acupuncture points with or without a new massage apparatus successfully treats asthmatic infants.

The research tested sixty infants with asthma. They were randomly split into two groups of 30 patients each, and given either standard suspended moxibustion to six points or moxibustion with the moxibustion-massage apparatus to the same six points. The treatments were given daily for a period of three months.

After the three months, the moxi-massage apparatus group had a "total effective rate" of 90% (27 out of 30 patients), while the moxibustion-only treatment resulted in a total effective rate of 83%.

The acupoints used by the researchers were Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL17), Pishu (BL20), Acupuncture Single Point Juque, and Acupuncture Single Point Zhongwan.

Total effective rate was gauged on whether the treatment resulted in a significant reduction of asthma attacks and asthmatic symptoms.

The researchers concluded that: "It is held that the combination of new moxibustion-massage apparatus and Chinese medicine for infantile asthma in remission stage has obvious therapeutic effect, which can reduce the attack of asthma and alleviate symptoms. The result is better than suspended moxibustion."

The treatment also resulted in no adverse side effects. This is typical for acupuncture and moxibustion. Moxibustion is a process whereby a ‘cigar’ or ‘cone’ of rolled mugwort herb is burnt and after it smolders, it is pressed against the skin at acupuncture meridian points. Burning the skin is prevented by using a variety of protective devices, making it completely safe.

Moxibustion can also be used by heating acupuncture needles with lit mugwort herb before using the needles. Suspended moxibustion does not incorporate the needles. Moxibustion has a great track record of success in Chinese Medicine, and has been the subject of thousands of clinical trials.