Regulative Effects of Auricular Acupuncture,Moxibustion and Chinese Herbs on Immunologic Function in the D-Galactose-induced Aging Mouse

Objective:To observe the regulative effect of auricular acupuncture,moxibustion and Chinese herbs on immunologic function in the D-galactose-induced aging mouse and to probe the feasibility and possible mechanisms for delaying aging,so as to provide experimental basis for acupuncture,moxibustion and Chinese herbs for delaying aging.Methods:Aging mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose,and treated by auricular acupuncture,auricular acupuncture plus moxibustion,and auricular acupuncture plus Chinese herbs respectively for 6 weeks and then serum interleukin-2(IL-2) and IL-6 contents and splenic lymphocyte transformation rate were compared among the groups.Results:Compared with the young group,the serum IL-2 level and the splenic lymphocyte transformation rate significantly decreased and the IL-6 level significantly increased in the aging mouse.After treatment by auricular acupuncture,auricular acupuncture plus Chinese herbs,especially auricular acupuncture plus moxibustion,the serum IL-2 level and the splenic lymphocyte transformation rate significantly increased,and the IL-6 level significantly decreased as compared with the model group.Conclusions:Combined application of auricular acupuncture,moxibustion and Chinese herbs can improve the.decline or dysfunction of immunological function in the aging organism to a certain extent.