Objective To seek safe, effective and popular penetration moxibustion therapy through exploring the optimum duration and temperature of penetration moxibustion by means of observing the relationship among the duration, temperature and effect of moxibustion on abdomen. Methods Thirty-two healthy persons were selected as subjects, and moxibustion was performed, centering on navels, on their abdomens. The temperature of moxibustion box was recorded once a minute since the beginning of moxibustion, and other items, including the temperature and time at which and when the subject felt heated, the temperature at which the subject felt reduced, temperature reduction time, temperature difference on the skin, time course of penetration moxibustion and subject＇s reaction, were also recorded. Results Among32 subjects, 2 dropped out from the study; flushing was shown on 30 subjects, sweating on 7, brindle on 5, and reaction on 7. The time course of penetration moxibustion was（28.37±2.37） min, the temperature at which the subject felt heated was（35.79±0.85） ℃, and the temperature at which the subject felt reduced was（44.23±1.62） ℃. Conclusion 1 During the course of penetration moxibustion, sense of warmth penetrate into abdominal cavity and waist from epidermis, and penetrate into head upwards and knee downwards;2 flushing, sweating and brindle are the important indices for the effect of penetration moxibustion; 3 penetration moxibustion can be lasted for 28–32 min, and the temperature should be controlled at 43–45 ℃, so as to not only reduce the impact of smoke on the indoor environment, but also make patients feel no pain.
