The contribution of thermo-moxibustion to surgical treatment in transplanted mouse mammary carcinoma

BALB/C mice bearing progressive transplanted mammary carcinoma were treated by surgical removal of the tumor mass either with or without thermo-moxibustion, applied to the GV 14-point-equivalent. Moxibustion is a very old modality of treatment used in the Oriental world and recently introduced to the Western world. The name is derived from the word, 'moxa,' which in Japanese means 'burning grass,' and usually refers to a particular plant, Artemis Vulgaris. Surgery and moxibustion together were more effective than surgery alone. Thermo-moxibustion as the sole treatment was effective when applied either before or very close to the tumor cell inoculation (35% of death and 33% of death respectively, as compared to 61. 7% death in the control). Thermo-moxibustion applied before and after tumor cell inoculation was more effective (15% death rate).