Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion on rheumatoid arthritis（RA） and its effect on related negative emotions

and to explore the possible mechanism. Methods A total of 70 patients with RA were randomized into an observation group（35 cases

1 case dropped off） and a control group（35 cases

2 cases dropped off）. Conventional western medication therapy was adopted in the control group. On the basis of the treatment in the control group

moxibustion at Zusanli（ST 36）

Shenshu（BL 23） and ashi points was adopted in the observation group

once every other day

3 times a week

and totally 5-week treatment was required in the two groups. Before and after treatment

the scores of visual analogue scale（VAS）

morning stiffness

28-joint disease activity score（DAS28）

self-rating anxiety scale（SAS） and self-rating depression scale（SDS） were observed and levels of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine（5-HT）

glucocorticoid receptor（GR） and interleukin（IL）-1β were detected by ELISA method in the two groups respectively. Results Compared before treatment

the scores of VAS and DAS28 were decreased after treatment in both groups（P<0.01

P<0.05）

and the scores of morning stiffness

SAS

SDS and the serum levels of 5-HT

GR

IL-1β were decreased after treatment in the observation group（P<0.01）. After treatment

the scores of VAS

morning stiffness

DAS28

SAS

SDS and the serum levels of GR

IL-1β in the observation group were lower than those in the control group（P<0.05

P<0.01）. The clinical symptoms of RA（scores of VAS

morning stiffness and DAS28） were positively correlated with negative emotions（scores of SAS and SDS

r=0.439

P<0.01）

the VAS score was positively correlated with serum levels of 5-HT（r=0.189

P<0.05） and IL-1β（r=0.189

P<0.05）.Conclusion Moxibustion can improve the clinical symptoms and negative emotions in patients with RA by regulating the inflammatory reactions.