PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of hand moxibustion for reduction of pain during menstruation. METHOD: Fifteen women were selected as subjects and data collection was conducted from September to December 2003. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Digital Infrared Thermotraphic Image (DITI) were used to measure the degree of pain and body heat. RESULT: The results showed that there was a significant reduction of pain during menstruation when hand moxibustion was performed. Also, there were significant differences in the change of body heat. These were left hands (Z=-2.805, p=.005), right hands (Z=-2.805, p=.005) and lower abdomen (Z=-2.803, p=.005). CONCLUSION: It was found that hand moxibustion decreased pain during menstruation and increased body heat. Therefore, hand moxibustion may be a good method for intervention to decrease pain during menstruation.

The purpose of this pilot study was to identify the effects of hand moxibustion therapy to decrease pain and relieve coldness of the body in women who had a hysterectomy. The conceptual framework of this study was derived from Ying-Yang, Khi and other corresponding theories. The data were collected from February to May 1997. A Graphic Rating scale was used to measure the degree of pain and Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I) was used to examine the degree of coldness. The subjects were women who resided in Seoul and had a hysterectomy within five years. An experimental group was composed of five women who received moxibustion and a control group was composed of five who did not. The research procedure began with having both the experimental group and control group describe their general characteristics and the degree of pain they perceived. Then, Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I) was conducted. Moxibustion was only given to the experimental group on both hands twice every day for a total of five weeks. Their perception of pain and D.I.T.I were examined weekly. The control group received no therapy. After finishing therapy, the perception of pain and D.I.T.I for both groups were also measured. According to this study, moxibustion therapy resulted in a change of body temperature on the right shoulder joint(p=0.00074), abdomen(p= 0.0047), waist(p=0.0068) and hands(p=0.0317) respectively. Also, the study results showed significant decrease (p=0.0001) in pain over time and significant improvement over body coldness.