To observe the effect of moxibustion on rats with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), and to study the effect of moxibustion on the expression of IL-17, IL-23 and its receptor. Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:the normal group, the model group, the euthyrox group, the aconite cake-separated moxibustion group and the mild moxibustion group. Model rats were immunized with porcine thyrogiobulin followed high iodine water to established animal models. The EAT model was identified after the last immunization. After 30 days’intervention of moxibustion and western medicine, the concentration of TGAb, TPOAb, IL-17, IL-23, IL-23R in serum, as well as the expression levels of L-17, IL-23, IL-23R mRNA in thyroid gland were detected. Results:All of the aconite cake-separated moxibustion, the mild moxibustion and the euthyrox could correct the histopathological changes of thyroid gland in EAT rats. Compared with the normal group, the levels of serum FT3 decreased (P<0.01), the concentration of serum TSH, TGAb and TPOAb increased (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-17, IL-23 and IL-23R mRNA expressionin in the thyroid tissue were increased in model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of serum FT3 increased (P<0.01), the concentration of serum TPOAb, IL-23 decreased in euthyrox group (P<0.05); and the levels of serum FT3 increased (P<0.01), the concentration of serum TSH, TGAb, TPOAb, IL-17, IL-23, IL-23R decreased (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-17, IL-23 and IL-23R mRNA expression in the thyroid tissue increased in aconite cake-separated moxibustion group (P<0.05); the concentration of serum TSH, TGAb, TPOAb, IL-17, IL-23 decreased (P<0.05), the concentration of serum IL-17, IL-23 and the levels of IL-17, IL-23 and IL-23R mRNA expression in the thyroid tissue were positively correlated with serum TGAb, the concentration of serum IL-17, IL-23, IL-23R and the IL-23R mRNA expression in the thyroid tissue were positively correlated with serum TPOAb in mild moxibustion group. Conclusion:Aconite cake-separated moxibustion and mild moxibustion can effectively correct the pathological changes of thyroid tissue in EAT rats, improve the thyroid function of EAT rats and reduce the thyroid autoantibody level, which may be related to the regulation of inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-23 Expression.