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

Summary

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.

Abstract

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.

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent, preventable, and treatable heterogeneous lung disease characterized by persistent, often progressive airflow obstruction resulting from abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema). It manifests chronic respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, expectoration, along with wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue, and reduced activity levels. Some patients may also experience acute exacerbations characterized by increased respiratory symptoms, which can impact their physical condition and prognosis, necessitating specific prevention and therapeutic measures^1....

Protocol

This study is a before-and-after self-controlled trial with patients sourced from the People's Hospital of Xinjin District, Chengdu. Operators participating in the trial must hold qualifications as traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and have independently conducted clinical treatments for over 1 year. All of the manipulation techniques followed the national standardized manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion - Part 5: Cupping therapy¹⁴ to ensure the specification and correctness .......

Discussion

Modern medical treatment strategies for AECOPD typically involve pharmacological interventions and respiratory support with a wide range of pharmacological interventions such as bronchodilators, various antibiotics, and oral and intravenous corticosteroids¹⁶. Even though there is high-level evidence supporting the use of antibiotics and oral/intravenous corticosteroids in improving outcomes such as recurrence rates, mortality rates, and duration of hospital stay, recent studies have indicated that.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
95% alcohol	Sichuan Yijie Medical Technology Co., LTD	20190079
absorbent cotton ball	Cofoe Medical Technology Co.,Ltd	20222140061
glass cup	Cofoe Medical Technology Co.,Ltd	20150041
hemostatic forceps	Shanghai MEDICAL Instruments (GROUP) Co., Ltd	20222201228
medicinal glycerin	Henan Huakai Biotechnology Co., LTD	20231002