Herb-partition moxibustion relieves chronic visceral hyperalgesia and 5-HT concentration in colon mucosa of rats.

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of herb-partition moxibustion on rectal sensory thresholds and to analyse possible mechanism of herb-partition moxibustion in treating chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats. Methods: Herb-partition moxibustion was administered to chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats for 7 days (once daily). Two moxa cylinders were used for each point in one treatment. Chronic visceral hypersensitivity rats without herb-partition moxibustion and normal rats were chosen as the control groups. Detection of abdominal withdrawal reflex was performed during 30–90 minutes after the first treatment. After seven treatments, a segment of distal colon (5 cm in length) was harvested, and 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration in the colon tissue was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Herb-partition moxibustion significantly depressed abnormally increased AWR scores from the rectus abdominis in response to colorectal distention stimulation at stren...