Thermal and antiradical properties of indirect moxibustion.

The thermal and antiradical properties of indirect moxibustion stimulation were investigated by thermal qualitative and spectroscopic methods. The thermal effect of indirect moxibustion was mainly dependent on the spacing distance between the moxa and skin, and not on the moxa weight. The radical scavenging activities of moxa and moxa-tar were measured by a photometric absorbance method, chemical reaction with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The obtained results indicate that the inhibitory effects of moxa and moxa-tar on superoxide production are due to the radical scavenging mechanism.