Use of laser speckle contrast imaging to reveal changes in temperature and blood perfusion in the skin of healthy subjects after administration of heated moxa sticks and Daiwenjiu ointment

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of heated moxa sticks (“moxibustion”) and Daiwenjiu ointment (DO) on changes in temperature and blood perfusion volume on the skin of the backs of healthy subjects.MethodsDO was spread on the left side of the body, and the right side of the body was treated with a heated moxa stick. Images denoting blood perfusion and body temperature were collected 7-8 cm lateral to the spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). Data obtained from eight-frame images were analyzed and used to calculate the mean blood perfusion volume. Simultaneously, blood-perfusion images were collected from the body surface and used to compare the change in blood flow on the body surface and the actual position of imaging.ResultsAfter moxibustion, a rapid increase in blood perfusion volume and body temperature was noted in the local skin surface. The maximum blood perfusion volume and body temperature was noted at 20 min (P<0.05). At 80-110 min after the spreading of DO, a gradual increase was noted in blood perfusion volume (P<0.05) and body temperature (P<0.05) compared with the baseline level. The maximum blood perfusion volume was at 110 min.ConclusionsUsing LSCI, these data revealed a rapid and sharp increase in blood perfusion volume and body temperature after treatment with moxibustion, but the respective changes seen in the DO group were gradual and moderate.