Acupuncture and moxibustion stimulate fibroblast proliferation and neoangiogenesis during tissue repair of experimental excisional injuries in adult female Wistar rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on the repair of excisional skin injuries on the back of adult female Wistar rats.

Methods: 90 animals were divided into three groups: C, control; A, acupuncture treatment (needled at traditional acupuncture points BL13, BL17 and ST36); M, moxibustion treatment (overlying same traditional acupuncture points). They were euthanased on days 7, 14 and 21 after injury for removal and preparation of tissue for analysis.