To investigate the mechanism of herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM) on Crohn's disease(CD) in rats to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of HPM.Methods:Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control group(NC)，a model control group(MC)，and an HPM group，with six rats in each group.The CD model was established by enema with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid(TNBS)，and the rats in the HPM group were treated with HPM at Tianshu(ST 25，bilateral) and Qihai(CV 6) for 14 days.Colorectal distension(CRD) was used to detect visceral sensitivity.Reverse transcription(RT)-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)，protein kinase B(AKT)，mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)，autophagy-related 16-like 1(Atg16L1)，and immunity-related GTPase family M protein(IRGM)，respectively.Results:Compared with the NC group，the MC group and the HPM group showed decreased visceral pain thresholds(P<0.001).After the intervention，compared with the MC group，the HPM group showed increased visceral pain threshold(P<0.01).There was no difference in the visceral pain threshold between the HPM group and the NC group(P>0.05).Compared with the NC group，the MC group showed increased protein and mRNA expression of PI3K，AKT，mTOR，Atg16L1，and IRGM(P<0.01).Compared with the MC group，the HPM group showed decreased protein and mRNA expression of PI3K，AKT，mTOR，Atg16L1，and IRGM(P<0.001).Conclusion:HPM can regulate the autophagy of colon tissues in CD rats and increase the visceral pain threshold by acting on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.