Effectiveness and Safety of Moxibustion on Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Characteristics of the 10 trials identified in the literature search.

Included study	Syndrome pattern	Sample size		Intervention		Acupoints	Frequency	Treatment (days)	Outcome
		Experiment	Control	Experiment	Control
Zhao et al. [23]	Yin deficiency and dryness	35	35	Moxibustion	Chinese medicine	BL25, BL32	30–60 min (qd)	7	1, 2, 6
Tian [24]	No description	30	30	Moxibustion	Mosabilli	BL23, BL25	40 min (qod)	28	1
Hu et al. [25]	No description	30	30	Moxibustion	Acupuncture	BL25, ST25	No (qd)	10	3
Yue and Li [26]	Qi deficiency	40	40	Moxibustion	Lactulose	RN6, RN4, RN8, ST25, ST36	20 min (qd)	28	1, 4
Pan et al. [27]	Yang deficiency	40	40	Moxibustion	Senna	ST25, RN8, RN6	20–30 min (qd)	28	1
Li et al. [28]	Deficiency of temper qi, deficiency of spleen and kidney yang	33	34	Moxibustion	Routine care	ST36, SP6	No (2–3 times/week)	56	3, 4
Wang [29]	No description	36	36	Moxibustion	Cisapilli	BL17, BL18, BL20、, BL21, BL22, BL23, BL25	60 min (qd)	21	1, 2, 5, 6
Du et al. [30]	No description	80	80	Moxibustion	Kaisell	ST30	No (qd)	3	1
Zhang [31]	No description	43	43	Moxibustion	Qi rong Runchang oral liquid	RN4	No (qd)	21	1, 6
Park et al. [32]	Qi deficiency or excess	12	13	Moxibustion	Sham moxibustion	ST23, ST27	No (3 times/week)	28	5, 6, 7, 8

1, clinical effectiveness rate: determined in accordance with the Chinese medicine industry standard “Diagnostic and Therapeutic Effect Standard of Chinese Medicine Disease Syndrome.” 2, first defecation time. 3, clinical effectiveness rate: formulated with reference to the Guiding Principles for Clinical Research of New Drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 4, clinical symptom score. 5, Bristol stool form scale. 6, adverse reactions. 7, Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS). 8, defecation frequency.