신유혈과 대장유혈의 쑥뜸요법이 중년여성의 요통해소와 삶의 질에 미치는 영향

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Effects of Moxibustion on Shenshu(BL-23) and Dachangshu(BL-25) Points for Chronic Lower Back Pain and Life Quality in Middle Aged Women

Park Dong-Sam Advisor : Prof. Moon, Kyung-Rye, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Alternative medicine Graduate School of Chosun University

This study aims to determine the effect of mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) moxibustion on chronic lower back pain in middle-aged women, which affects their daily activities; to ascertain the impact of this intervention on the physical health index of these women; and there by evaluate the role of this intervention in effective health managementin middle-aged women. From September 1 to December 1, 2013, the subjects underwent mugwort moxibustion in prone position once a week for 14 weeks. The intervention was applied to Shenshu(BL-23) and Dachangshu(BL-25) regions and to the both sides of the L2 and L4 vertebrae in the lumbar spine, which are the four main acupuncture points traditionally lower back pain. The study revealed the following findings: Mugwort moxibustion therapy provided greater improvement of lower back pain in middle-aged women in the experimental group those in the control group, thereby proving our first hypothesis. Our second hypothesis was supported by the greater decrease observed in the daily back pain score of the experimental group after undergoing mugwort moxibustion therapy than that observed in the control group (F = 35.695, p = 0.000). Our third hypothesis was supported by the increased quality of life in the experimental group due to the decrease in lower back pain after undergoing mugwort moxibustion therapy than that observed in the control group (F = 17.840, p = 0.000). Our final hypothesis was supported by the higher degree of normalization of the physical health index of the experimental group in healthy condition after mugwort moxibustion therapy (t = 8.678, p = 0.000).

The baseline and post-intervention values of the different variables studied demonstrated a significant correlation between mugwort moxibustion therapy and the intensity and duration of daily pain, quality of life, and physical health index values. The physical health index decreased significantly from a baseline value of 2.43 to a post-intervention value of 2.02 (t = 8.678, p = 0.000), thereby demonstrating the beneficial effects of mugwort moxibustion on back pain. The changes observed were also confirmed by using statistical analyses (t = 8.198, p = 0.000). The statistical analysis of the kidney-related index, randomly chosen from variables, revealed a decrease from 2.49 to 1.98.

These findings indicated that mugwort moxibustion on Shenshu(BL-23) and Dachangshu(BL-25) point is effective in reducing the intensity and duration of daily back pain, enhancing quality of life, and improving physical health index values in middle-aged women and can potentially be used to prevent disease and promote health in middle-aged women suffering from lower back pain.