Research Article Influence of the Deqi Sensation by Suspended Moxibustion Stimulation in Lumbar Disc Herniation: Study for a Multicenter Prospective Two Arms Cohort Study

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Moxibustion stimulates the Deqi (Qi arrival) phenomenon. Many clinical observations have documented that the character of the Deqi was a composite heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation. In this prospective multicentre comparative observational nonrandomized study, 92 patients with moderate to severe LDH were included. This study consisted of two parallel arms (A: heat-sensitive moxibustion sensation group; B: nonheat-sensitive moxibustion sensation group). Moxibustion was applied in the following three acupuncture points simultaneously: Da Changshu (BL25), Wei Zhong (BL40), and A-Shi acupuncture point (tenderness). The adjusted mean total Modified-JOA score showed significant differences between the groups in the first week (10.32 ± 4.27 95 % CI [9.23 ∼ 11.40] versus control group 12.42 ± 5.02 [11.62 ∼ 13.69]