Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of acu-moxibustion for ordinary psoriasis

so as to find a better curative method for it.Methods A total of 60 cases of psoriasis were equally randomized into medication group[(8.67±6.53) months in duration of disease

(39.25±10.21) years in age] and acu-moxibustion group [(9.16±7.37) months in duration of disease

and(37.38±11.36) years in age] according to a random number table.For patients of acu-moxibustion group

main acupoints used were Feishu(BL13)

Geshu(BL17)

Ganshu(BL18)

Pishu(BL 20) and Shenshu(BL 23)

combined with other acupoints [Hegu(LI 4)

Weizhong(BL 40)

etc.] according to the affected part of the body.Moxibustion was applied to Shenshu(BL 23) and the injured skin area for about 3 min every time.Acu-moxibustion treatment was given once every other day conti-nuously for 12 weeks.Patients of the medication group were treated with oral administration of Acitretin capsules(20 mg/d

for 12 weeks).The therapeutic effect was evaluated by using psoriasis area and severity index(PASI) scoring method.Results After the treatment

the integrative scores of PASI in both medication and acu-moxibustion groups decreased significantly(P<0.01)

and that of the acu-moxibustion group was significantly lower than that of the medication group(P<0.05).Of the both 30 psoriasis patients in the medication and acu-moxibustion groups

1(3.33%) and 4(13.33%) were cured basically

15(50.00%) and 17(56.67%) were improved significantly

12(40.00%) and 6(20.00%) were effective

and 2(6.67%) and 3(10.00%) invalid

with the effective rates being 93.33% and 90.00%

respectively.The cured plus markedly effective rate of the acu-moxibustion group was significantly higher than that of the medication group(P<0.05).Conclusion Acu-moxibustion therapy is effective in the treatment of psoriasis and is remarkably superior to that of medication.