DUAN Wen-xiu，  WU Zi-jian，  HU Ling，  SONG Xiao-ge，GONG Chang-ping，HE Lu，Liu Lei，Yu Qing，WANG Jie

（1. School of Acupuncture and Osteology， Anhui University of TCM，   Hefei， 230038， Anhui Province，China；2. Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian，Anhui Academy of TCM，Hefei，230038， Anhui Province， China； 3.The Department of Rehabilitation, Anhui Provincial Hospital，)

Abstract: Objective  To study the effect of inhaling moxa-smoke on the respiratory system, based on clinical study for the evaluation of safety in moxibustion process.   Methods   Basing on the examinations of moxa-smoke concentration which carried out in previous experiment with the indics, the concentration of PM 2.5 in moxa-smoke, to confirm low, moderate and high level concentration of moxa-smoke surroundings. Experiment samples were healthy rats which were divided into control group，low, moderate and high moxa-smoke concentration groups. After 100 days of persistently smoking, the study of different groups were carried out for  rat lung function and  tissues.  Then  examine  the  TNF- α   level  of  blood  serum  and  lung  tissue  homogenate.  Results   The levels of TNF-α in serum and lung tissue homogenate of high concentration smoke group were significantly higher than those in low concentration moxa-smoke group and moderate moxa-smoke group(P< 0.01). Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences  in  the  5  indexes  of  lung  function  (P>  0.05).   Conclusions   Low  concentration  moxa-smoke  do  not  cause  a  definite  pathological  change  in  lung  and  bronchial tissues. The levels of TNF-a in serum and lung were increased in high concentration moxa-smoke group,  which demonstrated  that  the  long-term  high  concentration  moxa-smoke  has  a  great possibility to a  pathological change in the lung and bronchus, as well as the increasing levels of TNF-α  in serum and lung tissue homogenate. There was no definite change in lung function in high concentration of moxa- smoke for a long time. 

Key words：Moxa-Smoke , Concentration, Lung, Respiratory System, Safety