Living with diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be incredibly frustrating. It often causes nerve damage that leads to pain or numbness in the limbs. Researchers looked at how combining moxibustion—a traditional therapy involving heat—with other treatments compares to standard care for these patients.
In a review of data from over 3,700 patients, researchers found that combining moxibustion with external herbal medicine outperformed standard treatment in several areas. Specifically, it showed improvements in nerve conduction speeds and better scores on the Toronto Clinical Scoring System, which measures how well a patient functions. Adding acupuncture to moxibustion also showed some improvement in nerve conduction compared to standard care.
While these results are promising, the evidence is not yet certain. Some findings were based on lower-quality data, and the study notes that these results need to be confirmed by more rigorous trials. For now, these moxibustion-based combinations might offer a helpful extra step in managing the symptoms of diabetic nerve damage.
