Analysis of factors influencing moxibustion efficacy by affecting heat-activated transient receptor potential vanilloid channels

Moxibustion is an important component part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Among different kinds of moxibustion methods, thermal stimulation seems to be a pivotal impact factor to the theraputic efficacy. Based on its thermal characteristic and treated area-skin, we hypothesize that the thermosensitive TRPV channels may involve in the mechanism of moxibustion. This study, by referring to various experimental and clinical data, analyzes the properties and features of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) subfamily 1-4 and the impact of moxibustion on these channels. The factors impacting the efficacy of moxibustion treatment were analyzed on three levels: the independent ba sic factors of moxibustion (temperature, space and time); moxibustion intensity (a compound factor achieved through comprehensive control of the three individual basic factors mentioned above); and moxibustion quantity (the amount of temperature stimulation applied within a certain unit of time, including the total amount of moxibustion treatment). The results from present study show that the effect of moxibustion therapy appears to be determined by the activation of TRPV1-4, mainly TRPV1 and TRPV2. Temperature (the degree of heat stimulation), time and area (how long the treatment lasts and how many TRPV1-4 channels are activated) affect the intensity of moxibustion treatment to form effective moxibustion quantity; this should be considered in clinical moxibustion application.