Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of long snake moxibustion in treating chronic gastritis with stomach cold on dog days. Methods Fourteen cases of chronic gastritis with stomach cold were treated by long snake moxibustion on the first day of the first, second and the last of dog days respectively in 2012 and 2013. The acupoint area was covered by the ginger cake, and a bar of triangle-shaped moxa cone was laid on the ginger cake, and moxibustion began by igniting the upper angle of the moxa cone. Long snake moxibustion with two moxa cones burned up in sequence was conducted around the area of Zhongwan （中脘 CV 12） of upper abdomen （covering Shangwan （上脘 CV 13）, CV 12, Jianli （建里 CV 114 Xiawan （下脘 CV 10） and Shuifen （水分 cv 9）, as well as Futonggu （腹通谷 KI 20）, Yindu （阴都 KI 19）, Shiguan （石关 KI 18） and Shangqu （商曲 KI 27） along the kidney meridian of foot-shaoyin）, and then the moxibustion with two moxa cones burned up in sequence was conducted around the lower thoracic spine at the back （covering Jinsuo （筋缩 GV 8）, Zhongshu （中枢 GV 7）, Jizhong （脊中 GV 6） and Xuanshu （悬枢 GV 5） as well as Jiaji （夹脊 EX-B 2） extending from T 9 to T 12 and L i with the governor vessel as the centerline at the back）, and the treatment lasted for about 40 min. The treatment was made three times a year, and with a total of six times in two years. The efficacy was statistically evaluated after the course of the treatment. Results Among the 14 patients, recently clinically cured for 2 cases, markedly effective for 7 cases, effective for 4 cases and ineffective for i case, with the total effective rate of 92.9%. Conclusion Efficacy of long snake moxibustion in treating chronic gastritis with stomach cold on dog days is effective and clinical symptoms are significantly improved.
