We acknowledge the financial support from the National Training Program for Clinical Excellence in Chinese Medicine (National Chinese Medicine Human Education Letter [2022] No. 1), &#34;100 Talent Plan&#34; Project of the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hospital office [2021] 42) and Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Scientific and Technological Research Program (2021MS093, 2021MS539, 2023MS608).

The clinical study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Clinical Research Approval Committee of the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Record No. KY2022014).
1. Preparations before operation
<ol>
	<li>Items preparation:
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare items such as Rheum officinale Baill, normal saline, Iodine volts swab, medical tape, medical gauze, medical bending plate, hand disinfectant, and medical rubber glove (Table of Materials).</li>
		<li>Use an ultra-micro pulverizer to make 100 g of Rheum officinale Baill into powder in advance and seal it in a plastic bag for later use.</li>
		<li>Before treatment, please take 15&#160;g of Rheum officinale Baill powder and use 15 mL of normal saline to make a paste of medicinal powder. Place the paste on a curved plate.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Patient preparation:
	<ol>
		<li>Advise the patient to empty the bladder in advance. Let the patient lie on his/her back, bend the knees, relax, and fully expose the abdomen.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Operator preparation:
	<ol>
		<li>Close doors and windows, pay attention to protect the patient&#39;s privacy and prevent the patient from catching a cold.</li>
		<li>Select Shenque point (RN8) and bilateral Tianshu points (ST25) on the patient&#39;s abdomen10, and evaluate the local skin of the patient&#39;s points to ensure that the skin around the selected points is free of lesions or damage while keeping the local points clean and dry (Figure 1 and Figure 2). 
		&#8203;NOTE: The Shenque acupoint (RN8) is in the umbilical region, central umbilical cord. The Tianshu point (ST25) is located in the abdomen, 2 finger-cun each around the navel (finger-cun means the proportional unit of the thumb, 2 finger-cun equals ~6.67 cm)15.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Operating steps
<ol>
	<li>Disinfect the hands, then press the Shenque point (RN8) and bilateral Tianshu points (ST25) of the patient&#39;s abdomen with the thumb fingertip. Press each acupuncture point 50 times, and make sure to rotate the thumb in a clockwise direction while pressing (Figure 3).
	<ol>
		<li>Change the intensity of pressing the acupoints from weak to strong. Press at ~1 s/time and at a frequency of 30-60 times/min until the patient feels a slight feeling of soreness. If the patient does not tolerate it during the procedure, stop the operation immediately.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Rub the palms of both hands until they are warm, then massage the patient&#39;s abdomen 50 times clockwise with the palms (Figure 4). Gradually massage from the navel to the outer circle and then from the outer circle back to the navel. 
	NOTE: The scope of the circle is centered on the navel, with 2 finger-cun as the radius, i.e., the radius is equal to ~6.67 cm.
	<ol>
		<li>Ensure the massage action is gentle and the force is not too heavy. Ensure the frequency of massage is from slow to fast, stable and moderate, about 30-50 times/min. It is best to feel slightly warm in the abdomen. If the patient develops intolerance during the procedure, stop the operation immediately.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Wear medical rubber gloves and use iodine volts swabs to disinfect the patient&#39;s local acupoints. Take about 3/4 of the prepared medicine from the medical bent plate, roughly divide it into 3 equal parts, make them into a shape similar to a ring (diameter x thickness of about 3 cm x 0.5 cm) and apply them to medical gauze separately.</li>
	<li>Fix the medical gauze containing the medicine to the Shenque point (RN8) and Tianshu points (ST25) in the patient&#39;s abdomen with medical tape, respectively. Remove it 6 h later.</li>
	<li>Require the patient to wear clean and breathable clothes after the acupoint application operation.
	<ol>
		<li>Ask the patient to avoid strenuous exercise to prevent the drug from falling off and flowing. Promptly remove the drug residues from the patient&#39;s local skin and assist the patient in getting dressed.</li>
		<li>Inform the patient not to scratch if the local skin is itching, burning, or painful, and remove the drug in time. Keep the local skin clean with normal saline.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

There are no competing financial interests in this article.

The elderly population is at high risk of COPD. Older people experience varying degrees of gastrointestinal decline, while hypoxia and reduced activities in COPD patients increase the risk of constipation. In addition, COPD patients are prone to negative psychological emotions such as nervousness, anxiety, depression, depression, and restlessness, which can cause increased pelvic floor muscle tone, resulting in paradoxical movements between rectal and canals during defecation and inhibition of intestinal peristalsis3,23. COPD belongs to the category of &#34;lung distension&#34; in TCM. Lung manifests in Qi and governs in breath, as well as disperse and descent of lung Qi24. The lung corresponds to the large intestine, according to the theory of TCM. The lung transmits body fluid and moistens the large intestine through the function of spreading and descending so that the conduction function of the large intestine is normal. COPD is due to the dysfunction of the circulation and descending function of the lung, causing abnormal stool or obstruction and constipation25.
The significance of some therapeutic measures such as increased fluid intake, physical activity, fiber-rich diet, and nutritional supplements recommended to relieve constipation is still questionable26. Medication results in some side effects. Highly permeable drugs such as glycerin and lactulose may cause bloating, abdominal pain and even bleeding hemorrhoids, so they are not recommended for daily use27. Biofeedback therapy requires multiple clinic visits, so it is only available at a few specialized centers28. Since the above treatments have limitations and cannot meet the treatment needs of patients, alternative therapies such as acupoint application and acupoint massage are becoming increasingly popular29,30. In the treatment of chronic constipation, acupoint stimulation therapy is beginning to show some advantages9. Acupoint application combined with acupoint massage can avoid the liver first-pass effect and gastrointestinal irritation. Some studies have proved that acupoint application combined with acupoint massage is effective and safe in the treatment of chronic constipation31. Acupoint application combined with acupoint massage can significantly improve the efficacy of constipation in COPD patients. Previous clinical studies have shown that the effective rate of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage in the treatment of constipation in COPD patients is more than 90%, while the effective rate of treatment that only ensures sufficient water and appropriate food fiber intake is less than 80%21,22. Acupressure combined with acupressure is considered an ideal alternative therapy for patients with chronic constipation.
The key to the whole operation is to make the patient&#39;s local acupuncture acupoint warm and sore to fully open up the flow of qi during acupressure massage time, according to the midnight-noon ebb-flow acupuncture theory of TCM, select the time period from 5 am to 7 am when qi and blood flow to the large intestine meridian for treatment32.
Studies have reported that a small number of people will have local skin erythema, papules, blisters, and other adverse reactions after receiving acupoint application, which can spontaneously subside after removing the acupoint application33. Operators can reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions by understanding allergies, adjusting diet plans, and shortening treatment time. If adverse reactions occur, promptly clean up local skin residues and closely monitor vital signs34.
Shenque Acupoint (RN8) and Tianshu Acupoint (ST25) are effective acupuncture acupoints commonly used to treat constipation35. The ganglion corresponding to the Tianshu acupoint (ST25) is consistent with the distribution of ganglia and sacral plexus in the large intestine. Stimulation of the Tianshu acupoint (ST25) can promote and enhance gastrointestinal peristalsis to effectively improve constipation36. Studies have shown that ST25&#39;s pathway in regulating constipation is closely related to inflammation and adipocytokines or leptin37. Studies have also shown that stimulation of Tianshu acupoint (ST25) can improve intestinal motility in constipated rats, which may be related to its upregulation of the immune activity of the colonic muscular plexus vasoactive intestinal peptide and substance P38. At the same time, stimulation of bilateral Tianshu Acupoint (ST25) can improve slow transit constipation-induced changes in colonic smooth muscle structure to treat constipation39. Studies have shown that stimulating Shenque Acupoint (RN8) can improve water content in fecal matter and the rate of intestinal transport in rats with functional constipation, possibly by regulating the expression of the aquaporin-3 (AQP3) and Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-&#954;B) signaling pathways40. Shennong&#39;s Herbal Classic of Materia Medica recorded that Rheum officinale Baill had the effect of cleaning the stomach and intestines, pushing Chen Zhixin, and improving the water valley.
At present, acupoint stimulation therapy is widely used in digestive system diseases such as constipation, diarrhea, and functional dyspepsia, with definite curative and minor side effects41. Gastrointestinal symptoms are considered to be one of the most common adverse events of chemotherapy42. Some studies have shown that almost 80% of cancer patients experience nausea, about 70% of cancer patients experience constipation, and over 50% of cancer patients experience vomiting and diarrhea during chemotherapy43. In the future, we can combine acupoint application and acupoint massage with chemotherapy for cancer patients to reduce the gastrointestinal side effects of chemotherapy. Hopefully, it will improve the treatment and quality of life of cancer patients.
Finally, the demonstration of the operation of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for treating constipation in COPD in this study has some limitations. The sample size of this study is small and data from only one patient is presented here. In the future, a large sample size will be included to demonstrate the effectiveness of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage, with the aim of guiding the treatment of constipation in COPD patients to provide a clinical basis.

Chronic respiratory diseases are the third leading cause of death in the world, and COPD is the leading cause of death from chronic respiratory diseases, placing a heavy burden on both individuals and society1. China has the largest number of patients with COPD in the world: about 99 million, with a prevalence rate of 8.6%2. Constipation is a common complication in COPD patients and is associated with high levels of polypharmacy3. There is evidence that more than 39% of COPD patients experience constipation, and constipation was positively correlated with the severity of dyspnea, timing of exacerbations, and complications of COPD4.&#160;It is highly suspected that constipation is associated with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). AECOPD accelerates the disease progression in COPD patients and is the leading cause of death in COPD patients5. Therefore, it is time to pay attention to the treatment of constipation in patients with COPD.
The majority of patients manage their constipation by themselves, mainly using dietary adjustments and laxatives. Studies have shown that osmotic laxatives are often the drug of choice for people with constipation6. However, the use of medications is sometimes not effective in improving constipation symptoms. It is associated with adverse reactions or poor tolerance. Up to 50% of patients with constipation are not fully satisfied with the results of their current treatments7,8. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternative therapies with good efficacy and high security. In the treatment of chronic constipation, acupoint stimulation therapy is beginning to show some advantages9. With the guidance of the concept of holism, syndrome differentiation, and treatment, as well as meridian acupoint theory in TCM, both acupoint application and acupoint massage are used to treat diseases by stimulating specific acupuncture points on the body surface10,11. Acupoint application can make the drug directly absorbed by the local skin. It achieves the effect of channeling meridians and harmonizing qi and blood by stimulating the acupuncture points, thereby improving the symptoms of constipation10. Acupoint massage stimulates the sacral nerve, regulating defecation by increasing the interstitial cell number and controlling rhythmic contractions or peristalsis through activating bowel movements12. Numerous pharmacological and clinical studies have confirmed the clear efficacy of herbs such as Rheum officinale Baill in the treatment of constipation13,14. A demonstration of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for treating constipation in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is presented in this article.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Chinese herbal decoction piece rhubarb</td><td>Sichuan Guoqiang Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd</td><td>21120104</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gauze swab</td><td>Shandong Angyang Medical Technology Co., Ltd</td><td>2022060201</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hand disinfectant</td><td>Gamma Disinfection Products (Foshan) Co., Ltd. Sichuan Branch</td><td>CNSQV3180322A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Iodine volts swab</td><td>Zhejiang Baigar Health Technology Co., Ltd</td><td>20220301</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Medical adhesive tape</td><td>Minnesota Mining Manufacturing Medical Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd</td><td>2105NF8</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Medical bending plate</td><td>Shanghai Medical Instrument (Group) Co., Ltd. Surgical Instrument Factory</td><td>181001</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Medical rubber glove</td><td>Shanghai Kebang Medical Latex Equipment Co., Ltd</td><td>2112019S</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Normal saline</td><td>Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd</td><td>N22061906</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for treating constipation in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and frequent disease in elderly patients, with a tendency for progressive exacerbation. Constipation that reduces the quality of life and triggers the risk of diseases is a common concomitant symptom in patients with COPD. Currently, western medical treatment does not achieve the desired results for patients. A high recurrence rate accompanies it, whereas traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history and rich experience in treating chronic diseases. Both acupoint application and acupoint massage are characteristic therapies of TCM, with minor side effects, high safety, simple operation, and outstanding advantages. They are effective in treating constipation for patients with COPD and are considered an ideal alternative therapy for patients with chronic constipation. The purpose of this article is to introduce the method of acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for the treatment of constipation in patients with COPD, including the selection of points, items, treatment time, and operation procedure.

Patients with COPD are diagnosed and treated according to &#34;The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease&#34;, published in 202316. The diagnostic criteria for constipation referred to the &#34;Clinical Practice Guideline on the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Constipation for Chinese Adults&#34; issued by the Chinese Society of Colorectal Surgery, Chinese Society of Surgery, Chinese Medical Association in 202217. Efficacy was assessed based on the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) form completed before and after the patient&#39;s treatment18. A patient with constipation who met the requirements in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was selected, and only acupoint application combined with acupoint massage was used to treat constipation after obtaining the patient&#39;s consent. The patient was treated once daily during the 5-7 am time frame each morning for a 1-week course of treatment. PAC-SYM scores were also completed before the start of treatment and after the completion of treatment.
Based on the PAC-SYM score completed by the patient, the pre-treatment and post-treatment score results were 18 and 6, respectively (Table 1). The results showed that acupoint application combined with acupoint massage could significantly improve constipation symptoms. Previous studies have confirmed that both acupoint application and acupoint massage could treat constipation with minor side effects, high security, obvious curative effect, and outstanding advantages19,20. Acupoint application combined with acupoint massage improved the efficacy of constipation in COPD patients, and previous clinical studies have shown that acupoint application combined with acupoint massage was more than 90% effective in the treatment of constipation in COPD patients21,22. Overall, acupoint application combined with acupoint massage is effective and safe in treating constipation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig01.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Location map of abdominal Shenque acupoint (RN8). The Shenque acupoint (RN8) is in the umbilical region, the central umbilical cord. <a href="https://www-jove-com.bdigitaluss.remotexs.co/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig01large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig02.jpg" /> 
Figure 2: Location map of bilateral Tianshu acupoint (ST25). The Tianshu acupoint (ST25) is located in the abdomen, 2 finger-cun each around the navel (finger-cun means the proportional unit of the thumb, 2 finger-cun equals approximately 6.67 cm). <a href="https://www-jove-com.bdigitaluss.remotexs.co/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig02large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 3" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig03.jpg" /> 
Figure 3: Finger press manipulation diagram. The operator presses the patient&#39;s acupoint with the thumb, rotating the thumb clockwise while pressing. <a href="https://www-jove-com.bdigitaluss.remotexs.co/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig03large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 4" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig04.jpg" /> 
Figure 4: Palm massage manipulation diagram. Rub the palms of both hands until warm, then massage the patient&#39;s abdominal acupoints in a clockwise direction with the palm of the hands. <a href="https://www-jove-com.bdigitaluss.remotexs.co/files/ftp_upload/64900/64900fig04large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
Table 1: Patient assessment of constipation symptoms (PAC-SYM) <a href="https://www-jove-com.bdigitaluss.remotexs.co/files/ftp_upload/64900/Table 1.xlsx" target="_blank">Please click here to download this Table.</a>

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at JoVE.com

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Here we demonstrate acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for treating constipation in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and frequent disease in elderly patients, with a tendency for progressive exacerbation. ...

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1.7K Views.  Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Here we demonstrate acupoint application combined with acupoint massage for treating constipation in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Video: Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and lung parenchymal destruction. It has a very high incidence in aging populations. The current conventional therapies for COPD focus mainly on symptom-modifying drugs; thus, the development of new therapies is urgently needed. Qualified animal models of COPD could help to characterize the underlying mechanisms and can be used for new drug screening. Current COPD models, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or the porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced emphysema model, generate COPD-like lesions in the lungs and airways but do not otherwise resemble the pathogenesis of human COPD. A cigarette smoke (CS)-induced model remains one of the most popular because it not only simulates COPD-like lesions in the respiratory system, but it is also based on one of the main hazardous materials that causes COPD in humans. However, the time-consuming and labor-intensive aspects of the CS-induced model dramatically limit its application in new drug screening. In this study, we successfully generated a new COPD model by exposing mice to high levels of ozone. This model demonstrated the following: 1) decreased forced expiratory volume 25, 50, and 75/forced vital capacity (FEV25/FVC, FEV50/FVC, and FEV75/FVC), indicating the deterioration of lung function; 2) enlarged lung alveoli, with lung parenchymal destruction; 3) reduced fatigue time and distance; and 4) increased inflammation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the ozone exposure (OE) model is a reliable animal model that is similar to humans because ozone overexposure is one of the etiological factors of COPD. Additionally, it only took 6 - 8 weeks, based on our previous work, to create an OE model, whereas it requires 3 - 12 months to induce the cigarette smoke model, indicating that the OE model might be a good choice for COPD research.

This study describes the successful generation of a new chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) animal model by repeatedly exposing mice to high concentrations of ozone.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation and lung parenchymal destruction. It has a very high ...

Acupoint Needle-Embedding Combined with Ironing Therapy for Postoperative Pain After Anal Surgery

Acupoint needle-embedding combined with ironing therapy is a non-drug treatment method to release postoperative pain after anal surgery. The practice is guided by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation theory and employs acupoint stimulation and heat to alleviate pain. Although prior research has shown that these are dependable methods for pain relief, the combined effect of the two techniques has not been described. In our research, we found that compared to using diclofenac sodium enteric-coated capsules alone, adding acupoint needle-embedding combined with ironing therapy was more effective for reducing pain levels at different stages after hemorrhoid surgery. Although this technique is efficient and commonly used in clinics, due to its invasive practice, acupoint needle embedding still carries risks relating to hospital-acquired infections and broken needles. Ironing therapy, on the other hand, can result in burns and connective tissue injuries. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized protocol for medical staff. Our protocol refines the traditional techniques and provides detailed instructions on patient preparation, operation techniques, and postoperative care to ensure the therapy is carried out safely and efficiently. By standardizing this therapy, this technique is expected to become an important complementary therapy for postoperative pain relief&#160;in hemorrhoids, which will significantly improve patients &#39;life quality after anal surgery.

The high incidence of pain after anal surgery is due to the physiological structure and pathological status of the anus. At present, the use of painkillers cannot provide satisfactory pain relief, which makes complementary therapy important. This paper proposes acupoint needle-embedding combined with ironing therapy to relieve postoperative pain.

Acupoint needle-embedding combined with ironing therapy is a non-drug treatment method to release postoperative pain after anal surgery. The practice is ...

Acupuncture Stimulation of Ears to Alleviate Sleeping Disorders in COPD Patients

Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent and irreversible airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. It has a wide spectrum of complications, and sleep disorders, as part of it, are common in severe cases, especially in elderly patients. Long-term lack of sleep may lead to the aggravation of the original disease, reducing patients' quality of life. Benzodiazepines are mainly used for symptomatic treatment of COPD combined with sleep disorders. However, such drugs have the side effect of respiratory central inhibition and could probably aggravate hypoxia symptoms. Auricular acupuncture is a special method of treating physical and psychosomatic dysfunctions by stimulating specific points in the ear. This article explains the specific methods of clinical operation of auricular acupuncture in detail, including assessment of patient eligibility, medical devices used, acupuncture points, course of treatment, post-treatment care, responses to emergencies, etc. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment scale (CAT) were used as the observational index of this method. So far, clinical reports have proved that auricular acupuncture has a definite curative effect in the treatment of COPD combined with sleep disorders, and its advantages of simple operation, few adverse reactions are worthy of further study and promotion, which provide a reference for the clinical treatment of such diseases.

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders 

This protocol introduces an effective method to improve the sleep condition of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and alleviate cough symptoms by using auricular acupuncture techniques to percutaneously stimulate specific acupoints in the patients' ears.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent and irreversible airflow limitation and chronic ...

Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Relieve COPD with Abdominal Distension

A Preliminary Study on Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Treating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension

Most patients with COPD have a combination of abdominal distension, which has been shown to adversely affect pulmonary symptoms, frequency of acute exacerbations, and quality of life in patients with COPD. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms in patients with COPD combined with abdominal distention. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion are highly effective, easy to perform, and inexpensive forms of traditional Chinese medicine treatments. The standardized practice of warm acupuncture and moxibustion is very important for the treatment of COPD combined with abdominal distension. The specific steps include selecting the appropriate acupoints for needling through syndrome differentiation treatment and selecting moxa sticks of appropriate length for moxibustion for about 30 min after the De-qi. The course of treatment lasts for one week. The following indicators are specifically assessed: the score of the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the abdominal distension visual analog scale (VAS). This article will clearly illustrate how to standardize the manipulation of warm acupuncture and moxibustion to relieve COPD combined with abdominal distention.

Author Spotlight: An Effective Traditional Chinese Medicinal Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension 

Here, we present a protocol to properly manipulate warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with abdominal distension.

Most patients with COPD have a combination of abdominal distension, which has been shown to adversely affect pulmonary symptoms, frequency of acute ...

Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Chronic Pelvic Pain Management

Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain Due to the Sequelae of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Chronic pelvic pain caused by the sequelae of inflammatory pelvic disease is a common clinical condition of pelvic pain in women. At present, the main challenges in its treatment are the limited effectiveness of pain relief and the frequent recurrence of symptoms, which significantly impact patients' quality of life and impose a considerable psychological burden on them. It is a clinically challenging disease. After summarizing years of treatment experience, the author's team discovered that acupoint catgut embedding demonstrated notable clinical efficacy in managing chronic pelvic pain stemming from pelvic inflammatory disease sequelae. Compared to existing Western medicine treatment methods, acupoint catgut embedding offers advantages such as a good analgesic effect, lower recurrence rate, economic benefits, and a relatively straightforward procedure. This article provides a comprehensive guide on embedding absorbable catgut into patients' acupoints for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain in females resulting from the sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Women's Chronic Pelvic Pain Management Through Acupoint Catgut Embedding

This article outlines acupoint catgut embedding therapy for chronic pelvic pain caused by the sequelae of pelvic inflammatory diseases.

Chronic pelvic pain caused by the sequelae of inflammatory pelvic disease is a common clinical condition of pelvic pain in women. At present, the main ...

Traditional Chinese Medicine Ear Point Therapy for Wheezing in COPD Patients

Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem. Due to the restriction of expiratory airflow, it is characterized by emphysematous destruction of the lungs. Shortness of breath is one of the main clinical symptoms. Auricular acupressure is a clinical therapy characteristic of Chinese medicine that treats the disease by compressing ear points. Usually, the seeds of Vaccaria segetalis are used to stimulate ear points, which has the effect of regulating qi and alleviating wheezing. In this paper, we propose this characteristic therapy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the clinical symptoms of wheezing of lung and kidney qi deficiency type in stable COPD patients. Ear points are selected as the treatment protocol for Lung (CO14), Spleen (CO13), Kidney (CO10), Shen Men (TF4), and Ping Chuan (AT1.2.4i) points. The protocol describes a case study using auricular acupressure for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to relieve wheezing symptoms.

Author Spotlight: Efficacy of Auricular Pressure Bean Therapy in Reducing Wheezing Symptoms

This protocol describes an effective therapy using auricular acupressure to relieve wheezing symptoms in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem. Due to the restriction of expiratory airflow, it is characterized by ...

Improving Constipation 

Electroacupuncture Combined with Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy for Functional Constipation

Functional constipation (FC) is a dysfunctional gastrointestinal disease with the main clinical manifestations of complex bowel movements, incomplete bowel movements, reduced frequency of bowel movements, and dry and hard stools, which seriously affect patients' quality of life and psychology. Electroacupuncture improves constipation by performing acupuncture on specific points in the body to accelerate intestinal peristalsis. Chinese medicine ironing therapy (CMIT) can warm up the meridians, accelerate local blood circulation, promote gastrointestinal dynamics, and accelerate gastric emptying. This study elaborated on the method and steps of electroacupuncture combined with CMIT for functional constipation, including patient selection, material preparation, operation procedure, postoperative care, and precautions. The therapeutic effect of the method was also evaluated. The results of the study showed that after 4 weeks of treatment, compared with Western medicine alone, electroacupuncture combined with CMIT can improve the frequency of FC patients' voluntary bowel movements, constipation, and quality of life. There were no obvious adverse reactions.

Electroacupuncture combined with Chinese medicine ironing therapy can effectively improve patients' constipation symptoms and their quality of life. Here, we present a protocol to describe the treatment process of electroacupuncture combined with Chinese medicine ironing therapy for functional constipation.

Functional constipation (FC) is a dysfunctional gastrointestinal disease with the main clinical manifestations of complex bowel movements, incomplete ...

Cupping Therapy as a Complementary Treatment for AECOPD Relief

Alternative Therapy for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Moving Cupping Along Meridians

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent respiratory condition characterized by persistent and progressive airflow obstruction, resulting in chronic respiratory symptoms like dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, accompanied by wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue, and reduced physical activity. Under the influence of various factors, patients with COPD often experience acute exacerbations, which have a significant negative impact on the prognosis, quality of life, and life span of patients. As a branch of cupping therapy, moving cupping along meridians is an essential complementary therapy of the traditional Chinese medicine system. Cupping plays a unique role in treating and preventing many diseases by stimulating the local skin with negative pressure.
This article elaborately describes the procedure of moving cupping along meridians therapy in the treatment of AECOPD. The effectiveness and feasibility of moving cupping along meridians therapy in relieving symptoms and enhancing the quality of life is demonstrated by comparing the changes in the 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) health survey questionnaire, the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC), and the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score before and after the treatment. As a cost-effective complementary treatment, the protocol for the moving cupping along meridians treatment described in this article is expected to provide a reference for non-pharmacological treatment options for AECOPD.

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Therapeutic Efficacy of Moving Cupping Along Meridians for Acute Exacerbation of COPD

This protocol presents a novel approach to alleviating the symptoms and improving the quality of life of patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) by employing moving cupping along meridians therapy to stimulate the first sideline of the bladder meridian.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent respiratory condition characterized by persistent and progressive airflow obstruction, ...

Acupoint and Ear Plaster Therapy for Treating Sleep Disorders in AECOPD Patients

Acupoint Application Combined with Ear Plaster Therapy for Treating Sleep Disorders with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, which is not fully reversible and progressive. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) refers to acute changes in respiratory distress, cough, and sputum in COPD patients at baseline levels. Sleep disorders are a very common complication in patients with AECOPD. At present, long-term use of sedative-hypnotics alone has many side effects, such as mental and physical dependence and cognitive impairment. While the efficacy of other special intervention methods is not clear, and the cost is high, there is an urgent need for effective and safe treatment in clinics. Acupoint application and ear plaster therapy are considered the characteristic therapies of traditional Chinese medicine. They have the advantages of small side effects, high safety, and simple procedure. This study will elucidate in detail the specific process and efficacy of the two treatment methods for AECOPD complicated with sleep disorders, including medical devices used, selection of acupoints, procedure, and posttreatment care. This study is intended to provide a new reference for the clinical treatment modality of this type of disease.

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD &#8212; A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

The present protocol describes the specific process and efficacy of the acupoint application combined with ear plaster therapy for sleep disorders in a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including medical devices, selection of acupoints, operating methods, and posttreatment care.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation, which is not fully reversible and ...

Assessing the Efficacy of Ginger Moxibustion in Diarrhea Management in COPD

Ginger Moxibustion, A Non-pharmacological Treatment, for Diarrhea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common and frequently occurring disease in the elderly population, and it tends to progressively worsen. Diarrhea is a common extrapulmonary complication in patients with COPD. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, weakness, and a loss of appetite, among other adverse consequences, which seriously affect the quality of life and nutritional status of patients. These consequences are not conducive to improving airway obstruction in COPD patients. At present, modern medicine has poor curative effects, fails to control symptoms fully, causes a relapse after drug withdrawal, has side effects, and increases the medication burden of patients. Ginger moxibustion is a unique non-pharmacological therapy of traditional Chinese medicine, which is safe and effective in controlling diarrhea, has few side effects, and is easy to accept. It is, therefore, an ideal alternative therapy. This article aims to introduce the protocol of ginger moxibustion for treating diarrhea in COPD patients.

Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Pharmacological Therapies for Chronic Respiratory Diseases &#8212; Linking Intestinal Microbiome Insights to COPD Treatment

Here, we present the method of using ginger moxibustion to treat diarrhea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common and frequently occurring disease in the elderly population, and it tends to progressively worsen. ...