This article is focused on the observation of changes in body temperature

body weight

cholinesterase activity in blood

and gastrointestinal motility of reserpinized rats treated by stimulating Zusanli (ST 36)with moxibustion of different quality.(mugwort floss or pipe tobacco) and quantity (strong stimulation or weak stimulation).The experiment shows that better results are achieved with moxibustion not by burning tobacco;the result of tstrong stimulation with moxa-sticks is better than that of weak stimulation with the same material.Strong stimulation with moxa-sticks can obviously increase the activity of cholinesterase (P＜0.05)

inhibit hyperactive gastrointestinal motility (P＜0.05)

maintain normal body temperature (P＜0.05)

and prevent they weight lossing.All these show that therapeutic results of moxibustion are closely related to the quality and quantity of moxibustion