Cortisol Secretion and Subsequent Impaired Lymphopoiesis after Starvation Can Be Reduced by Moxibustion Treatment

Abstract

As a known steroid hormone, cortisol is involved in gluconeogenesis. Uninterrupted cortisol secretion has fatal effects, both physically and psychologically, because cortisol counteracts the immune response. Moxibustion (Mox) treatment is a traditional technique used in East Asia, which therapeutically transfers heat to certain points on the body surface. In the present study, the effect of Mox treatment on stress hormone secretion was investigated using a mouse model of starvation, in which Mox was applied on the Zhongwan acupoint (CV12). First, high cortisol levels induced by starvation were dose-dependently reduced by Mox treatment. In addition, the stress-induced decline in lymphoid progenitor cell production accompanied by altered cellularity in the thymus, bone marrow, and spleen was also significantly recovered by Mox treatment. Taken together, these findings indicated that Mox treatment reduces stress hormone secretion, which may rescue stress-induced lymphopoiesis impairment. These observations also suggested that enhanced resistance to stress may be one of the mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory effects of Mox treatment.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Bio-Clean II Herbal Remedy on C-reactive protein, Corticosterone and Antiphospholipid antibodies in Rats exposed to Purified Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide

“…Furthermore, in this study, the serum Corticosterone level of the Bio-clean II treated rats was significantly reduced in a duration dependent manner when compared to the inflammation control post-exposure to LPS. This agrees with the study of Hwang et al, in which treatment with Mox (a traditional therapeutic procedure used in Oriental Medicine for treating infectious diseases, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and pain) was found to significantly reduce high cortisol levels in a dose-dependent manner in mice [44]. It is also in agreement with the work of Lim et al in which Lindera obtusiloba extracts, at concentrations that were not affected by cell viability, significantly decreased luciferase activity in response to cortisol in a concentrationdependent manner [45].…”

Comparison of the Effects of Self-Administered Moxibustion versus Acupressure on Blood Pressure, Stress, Sleep Quality, and Quality of Life in Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Parallel Trial

“…The effect of moxibustion on stress, including stress hormones and sympathetic activity, has primarily been investigated in stress-induced animal models [23,24]. In terms of clinical studies, there has been only one study examining the effect of moxibustion on stress-related variables [16].…”

“…However, there is limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of moxibustion on stress. Studies have reported the effects of moxibustion on stress hormones (i.e., cortisol) in stressed animal models with conditions like starvation and gastric ulcer [23,24], but its effects on stress hormones in human individuals are not yet established. The effect of moxibustion on mental stress is currently unknown.…”