Warm Moxibustion and Scraping as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Cervical Spondylosis Treatment

Cervical spondylosis (CS) is characterized by abnormal sensations such as pain in the occiput, neck, and shoulder, which may be accompanied by pressure pain. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers unique therapeutic advantages in the management of CS. Warm moxibustion and scraping (WMAS), a TCM therapy, combines the thermal stimulation of moxibustion, the mechanical stimulation of scraping, and neck movement, utilizing specialized TCM instruments to alleviate the symptoms of cervical spondylosis. This study details the WMAS protocol, including: (1) pre-treatment evaluation using standardized diagnostic criteria, (2) application protocols employing specialized TCM instruments, (3) standardized therapeutic manipulation techniques, (4) post-interventional management strategies, and (5) contingency protocols for adverse event mitigation. Clinical evaluations using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), visual analog scale (VAS), and Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) confirmed the therapeutic efficacy. These findings indicate that WMAS provides an effective, standardized intervention for CS with few adverse effects, meriting broader clinical application and mechanistic exploration in CS and other related diseases.