Objective To observe the curative effect of different duration of mild moxibustion in superficial gastritis patients with deficiency cold pattern of spleen and stomach.Methods A total of 84 superficial gastritis patients were randomly divided into moxibustion-20 min group

moxibustion-40 min group and medication(Ranitidine) group

with 28 cases in each group.Mild moxibustion was applied to bilateral Zusanli(ST 36) and Zhongwan(CV 12

odd days)

Pishu(BL 20) and Weishu(BL 21

even-numbered days) for 20 min and 40 min respectively

once daily for 20 days.The symptom integrative score of superficial gastritis patients and the therapeutic effects were assessed according to "The Scoring Table for Symptoms and Signs of Gastrointestinal Disorders of Chinese Medicine"

etc.Results Following 20 days' treatment

of the three 28 gastrititis patients in the medication

moxibustion-20 min and moxibustion-40 min groups

0

1

and 0 cases were cured

5

7 and 12 experienced marked improvement in their symptoms

15

16 and 12 had an improvement

and 8

4 and 4 were invalid

with the effective rates being 71.4%

85.7% and 85.7%

respectively.After one month's follow up

of the three 28 cases in the medication

moxibustion-20 min and moxibustion-40 min groups

0

4 and 0 cases were cured

4

8

and 13 experienced marked improvement

15

16 and 13 had an improvement

9

0 and 2 were ineffective

with the effective rates being 67.9%

100% and 92.9%

respectively.Self-comparison of each group showed that the integrative scores of symptoms were all decreased significantly after the treatment and one-month's follow up in the three groups(P<0.01).The effective rates of both moxibustion-20 min and-40 min were significantly higher than that of the medication group after one month's follow up(P<0.01

P<0.05).The therapeutic effect of moxibustion-20 min group was significantly superior to that of the medication group in lowering the integrative score of symptoms after one month's follow up(P<0.01).No significant differences were found among the three groups in the therapeutic effects and in reducing integrative scores of symptoms after 20 days' treatment(P>0.05).Conclusion Mild moxibustion is significantly superior to medication in long-term therapeutic effects in the treatment of superficial gastritis patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold pattern.