This research was supported by the special subject of scientific research on traditional Chinese Medicine of Sichuan Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2021MS093,2021MS539, 2023MS608) and Sichuan science and technology program of Science &#38; Technology Department of Sichuan Province (2022YF0392).

This is a before-and-after self-controlled trial with patients sourced from the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Record NO.KY2022007). Patients were informed about the purpose and process of the study and agreed to the use of images and videos during the experiment.
1. Pre-treatment evaluation
<ol>
	<li>Inclusion criteria: Include patients who fulfill the following conditions: Between the age of 50 and 75 years; conscious, mentally normal, and informed about the study; not involved in other clinical studies; meet the diagnostic criteria for stable COPD based on the GOLD COPD report, 2023 update( global strategy for prevention, diagnosis, and management of COPD)1, and have a comprehensive analysis of the patients&#39; past medical history, clinical manifestations, pulmonary function, and imaging findings, etc.; meet the diagnostic criteria for sleep disorders as per the Chinese classification of mental disorders (CCMD-3)28 or the diagnostic criteria for the international classification of sleep disorders29.</li>
	<li>Exclusion criteria: Exclude participants who meet any of the following criteria: Coexisting with other serious physical or mental illnesses; under acute exacerbation of COPD; have sleep disorders known to be caused by specific causes other than COPD (such as endocrine diseases, drug use, etc.); refusal to accept acupuncture treatment; allergic to medical devices (such as tape, metal needles, etc.); auricle injury; sensory disturbances; patients who have received acupuncture, sleeping pills, or treatment other than basic COPD treatment within the past 2 weeks. 
	NOTE: Coagulation should be checked in patients with potential coagulation disorders because there is a certain chance that auricular acupuncture in such patients will lead to subcutaneous purple spots and excessive bleeding.</li>
	<li>Dropout criteria: Withdraw participants who meet any of the following criteria from the study: Serious adverse reactions; subjects voluntarily withdraw from the study; subjects who have serious complications or disease progression during the study.</li>
</ol>
2. Study design
NOTE: All the practitioners performing the treatment must have an acupuncturist qualification certificate and have performed clinical treatment independently for more than 1 year. The treatment is carried out under the National Standard of the People&#39;s Republic of China Standardized manipulations of acupuncture and moxibustion-Part 3:Ear acupuncture(GB/T 21709.3-2021)30. The acupuncturists will not be changed during the experiment unless necessary.
<ol>
	<li>Perform auricular acupuncture based on conventional COPD treatment according to the 2023 global strategy for prevention, diagnosis, and management of COPD1. Other treatments for sleep disorders are not supported to guarantee the independence of the auricular acupuncture treatment.</li>
	<li>If an acute exacerbation occurs during the treatment, take prompt emergency measures, and record the acute attack and treatment process in detail. After the condition improves, consult the patients and re-evaluate to decide whether to continue the experiment.</li>
	<li>If there is no improvement after 1 week of active treatment, withdraw the patient from the experiment as a dropout participant.</li>
</ol>
3. Operating steps
<ol>
	<li>Pre-operation preparation
	<ol>
		<li>Provide sleep hygiene education to patients 1 week before the start of treatment, including maintaining regular sleep and wake times to establish a biological clock, developing a reasonable exercise schedule, and avoiding strenuous exercise before bed, creating a quiet sleeping environment, eating regularly to avoid hunger or satiety at night, avoiding drinking too much liquid at night to avoid going to the toilet at night, no tea, coffee, or energy drinks after 4 pm, and avoid smoking before going to bed.</li>
		<li>Verify the patient&#39;s information: Name, bed number, and ID. Explain detailed treatment procedures and methods to patients and their families to reduce or eliminate patients&#39; tension or fear.</li>
		<li>Check the medical devices used in the treatment: Sterile cotton swab, 0.5% iodophor, tweezers,&#160;and 0.25 mm x 1.3 mm press needle (see Figure 1). Ensure that all materials are within the validity period.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Selection and positioning of acupuncture points
	<ol>
		<li>For selection of acupuncture points, refer to Experimental Acupuncture and Moxibustion31. Select four acupuncture points, Fei (CO14), Xin(CO15), Shen men(TF4) , and Pi zhi xia(AT4), according to the criteria. The specific information of the selected acupoints is shown in Table 1. 
		NOTE: The location of the acupoints refers to the National Standard of the People&#39;s Republic of China: Nomenclature and location of auricular points32 published in 2008 (GB/T13734-2008). See Figure 2 and Figure 3 to accurately identify the correct location of the acupuncture point.</li>
		<li>Hold the auricle with one hand and use a cotton swab with the other hand to probe the auricular acupoints one by one with an appropriate strength. Take sensitive points as specific acupuncture points and mark the points with a sterile marker.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Operation procedure
	<ol>
		<li>Disinfection of the operator&#39;s hands: Wipe fingers with 75% alcohol cotton ball.</li>
		<li>Hold an iodophor cotton ball with tweezers to thoroughly disinfect the acupuncture site, hold the edge of the tape of the press needle with tweezers, aim the needle tip at the acupoint, and pierce vertically and slowly. 
		&#8203;NOTE: When holding press needles, use tweezers rather than directly by hand to avoid contamination of needles.</li>
		<li>Make sure that the round handle on the top of the needle fits flat against the skin surface and is firmly fixed with tape. Then press gently with fingertips for about 1-2 min.</li>
		<li>At the same time, ask the patient if there is a comprehensive feeling of soreness, numbness, bloating, and heaviness. If so, it indicates that a state of De Qi is achieved, which is considered as an essential part of the efficacy of acupuncture, indicating that the operation is successful, and the predicted effect is achieved.</li>
		<li>Instruct the patient to use the correct manipulation, immediately after needle insertion, as described below, to press the acupuncture site: use thumb and index finger to press from the back and front of the auricle, strength from light to heavy.</li>
		<li>Carefully observe the patient&#39;s feelings, whether there is a state of De Qi or dizziness, pain, and other discomforts. Report to the doctor if any discomfort occurs and take countermeasures in time (read step 4 for details)</li>
		<li>Ask the patients to rest on their backs for at least 30 min after the needle is inserted to avoid accidents and adverse reactions.</li>
		<li>Perform the treatment for 2 weeks, 3x a week, scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The time of each indwelling needle is 36 h. After this time, ask the patient to return to the clinic for needle removal and post-treatment care as described in step 3.4.</li>
		<li>In the follow-up treatment, ask the patients to massage the auricular points 3x a day for 1-2 min each time on their own. To avoid over-stimulating the skin of the ear, instruct to massage only one side of the ear each day and then switch to the other side the next day.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Post-treatment care
	<ol>
		<li>Keep the puncture sites dry and clean to prevent infection.</li>
		<li>When removing the needle, use tweezers to hold the tape and pull it out. Carefully check whether there is any broken needle. If so, report to the doctor in time and take countermeasures.</li>
		<li>After removing the needle, disinfect the acupoints again on the puncture site to prevent infection.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
4. Prevention and countermeasures for adverse events
<ol>
	<li>Precautions
	<ol>
		<li>Before the start of the study, communicate with the patients and their families in detail, explain the purpose of treatment, specific operations, and precautions to obtain the active cooperation of the patients.</li>
		<li>Strictly follow the operating procedures during the trial.</li>
		<li>Stop the trial if the patient&#39;s condition changes or worsens and take corresponding treatment measures in time. Adjust the treatment plan according to the global strategy for prevention, diagnosis, and management of COPD 1 and re-evaluate after improvement.</li>
		<li>Adverse reaction event report: Record adverse reactions (including bleeding, hematoma, infection, severe pain, etc.) occurring during the treatment process in detail.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Countermeasures
	<ol>
		<li>If the press needle falls off: Check the integrity and notify the acupuncturist to replace the needles.</li>
		<li>If the needle breaks: Press around with appropriate force to make the broken end protrude out and remove it with tweezers.</li>
		<li>If there is infection, bleeding, or hematoma at the acupuncture site: Take disinfection, anti-infection, and anti-inflammatory treatment and closely observe the patient&#39;s condition.</li>
		<li>Needle syncope: When needle syncope occurs, remove the press needle immediately and check the integrity of the removed needle. Ask the patient to lie down to increase blood flow to the brain and reduce dizziness. Appropriately loosen the patient&#39;s collar and waistband, keep warm, and ensure air circulation, administer intravenous glucose to the patient if necessary. Administer first aid immediately if the patient is in critical condition. 
		NOTE: Needle syncope (also called fainting during acupuncture), is a kind of acupuncture accident which often occurs in the process of acupuncture. Patients may have conscious symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, palpitations, etc., often accompanied by signs such as pallor face, cold sweat, decreased blood pressure, and weak pulse. In severe cases, there can even be a sudden loss of consciousness33. According to modern medicine, needle syncope is a kind of vasogenic syncope. Its primary mechanism is the stimulation of solid needling through the vagus nerve reflex, causing the dilation of the vascular bed (especially the surrounding muscles). Reduced peripheral vascular resistance and return blood flow result in reduced cardiac output and decreased blood pressure, which together lead to a temporary, widespread reduction in cerebral blood flow and subsequent syncope. Its diagnosis is mainly based on the patients&#39; subjective feelings (dizziness, nausea, etc.) and objective signs (pallor, low blood pressure, etc.).34</li>
		<li>After the condition stabilizes, consult the patient and re-evaluate to decide whether to continue the treatment according to the actual situation.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
5. Efficacy evaluation
NOTE: Researchers can choose appropriate evaluation indicators after comprehensive consideration and analysis according to the condition of patients. When it comes to subjective indicators such as scale filling, questionnaire content and scoring method should be explained by the same researcher, and patients must complete the scoring independently without any suggestive reminder.
<ol>
	<li>Outcome measures
	<ol>
		<li>Use the COPD assessment test (CAT) to evaluate patients&#39; quality of life: Patients with a score of 0-10 rated COPD as minor impact; scores between 11-20 indicate moderate impact; scores between 21-30 indicate severely affected; scores between 31-40 indicate very serious impact.</li>
		<li>Determine a difference or change in patient CAT &#62;2 as clinically meaningful. Changes of more than 2 points in patients&#39; CAT scores before and after treatment may indicate that the treatment has clinical significance.</li>
		<li>Use the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) to evaluate the sleep quality of the patients. Evaluate the effect of auricular acupuncture by comparing the total points before and after treatment. A higher score indicates poorer sleep quality, while a reduction in PSQI scores indicates an improvement in sleep quality.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
6. Data collection and analysis
<ol>
	<li>For analysis, use data from the scales filled out by the patients before and after treatment, which were collected 24 h before the first treatment and 24-36 h after the last treatment.</li>
	<li>For data analysis, use a commercial data analysis software, and consider a p&#60; 0.05 to indicate statistical significance. Use the paired t-test for before-and-after self-controlled comparison.</li>
</ol>

Acupuncture Stimulation of Ears to Alleviate Sleeping Disorders in COPD Patients

The authors have nothing to disclose.

As an ancient Chinese traditional treatment modality, the efficacy of auricular acupuncture has been tested throughout its long history of development, and the results of various studies in recent years have further demonstrated the independent effectiveness of auricular acupuncture in improving sleep quality in patients with insomnia, relieving symptoms and improving lung function in patients with COPD. The efficacy of the method is mainly dependent on the acupoints chosen. Studies by Runyuan Ren23</su...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, sputum production, exacerbations) due to abnormalities of the airways (bronchitis, bronchiolitis) and/or alveoli (emphysema) that cause persistent, often progressive, airflow obstruction1. Its rate of incidence is closely related to individual factors like age, gender, genetics, and environmental factors such as smoking, air pollution, occupational dust, etc2. In recent years, COPD has represented a significant public health challenge and has gradually become one of the three causes of death worldwide, which threatens human health and affects the quality of life of patients. According to the 2019 global burden of disease survey, 212.3 million COPD epidemics were reported globally, resulting in approximately 3.3 million deaths3. It is worth noting that COPD, as the third leading cause of death globally in 2019, has brought a substantial economic burden to patients and their families, as well as medical and social resources4.
The clinical symptoms of COPD are complex, with a broad spectrum of comorbidities, and sleep disorders (including insomnia, sleep apnea syndrome, etc.), which mainly occur in severe cases, especially in elderly patients, but are often underestimated or ignored. It is estimated that about 40% of COPD patients suffer from sleep disorders5, and often experience nocturnal awakenings due to symptoms such as coughing, dyspnea, mucus production, and nocturnal oxygen desaturation. Chronic sleep deprivation not only reduces a patient&#39;s quality of life, but it also significantly increases the risk of COPD exacerbations and respiratory-related emergencies. Studies have shown that sleep disorders are closely related to the progression of COPD and have become an independent risk factor for COPD exacerbation and increased mortality6.
The reasons for this are mainly related to the following mechanisms: 
Firstly, sleep brings physiological stress to the respiratory system, which is amplified in respiratory diseases, leading to decompensation7. Secondly, low-quality sleep may lead to cognitive impairment, triggering negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, thereby affecting the self-management behavior of COPD patients8,9. More importantly, poor sleep may impair immune function, resulting in a significantly increased risk of patients exacerbated because of infectious diseases10,11.
Currently, symptomatic treatment measures such as nocturnal oxygen therapy, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and benzodiazepines are mainly adopted for COPD complicated with sleep disorders12,13. Nocturnal oxygen therapy and CPAP can effectively increase blood oxygen levels14. However, critically ill patients usually need to be treated in specialist sleep centers, and the vast overheads can add to the patient&#39;s burden. Benzodiazepines have the side effect of central respiratory depression, which may aggravate the exacerbate hypoxia of COPD patients and even increase the risk of respiratory failure15,16. Therefore, improving the therapeutic effect, reducing the side effects and cost of the treatment, and finding an effective measure to improve the sleep quality of patients with COPD combined with sleep disorders remain important issues for current research.
As an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine, the effectiveness of acupuncture has been tested in its long history, but still needs to be thoroughly recognized worldwide17. Existing acupuncture treatments are still dominated by electro-acupuncture or traditional acupuncture. However, since COPD combined with sleep disorder is a chronic disease that requires long-term and stable treatment, the limitations of these two acupuncture stimulation methods, including the risk of unexpected events such as broken needles and bent needles18, immobilization treatment, and fixed treatment time, inconvenience of other medical operations during needle retention and so on, which make it difficult for patients to adhere to long-term acupuncture treatment and lead to unstable curative effect19,20.
Auricular acupuncture, as a particular type of acupuncture, is a treatment method that stimulates specific points in the ear to diagnose and treat physical and psychosomatic disorders21. This treatment can be subdivided into acupuncture therapy, plaster therapy, needle-embedding therapy, auricular massage therapy, electro-acupuncture therapy, etc., among which auricular needle-embedding therapy and auricular plaster therapy method are most commonly used in clinical practice. Press needles (as shown in Figure 1) are an improved method of intradermal acupuncture. It has a short body and a circular handle buried in a piece of medical adhesive tape. With the advantages of long-lasting effect and high safety, it has been widely used in treating chronic pain, insomnia, paralysis, and other diseases in recent years22,23,24,25. Up to now, with more and more clinical reports proving the efficacy of auricular acupuncture, it is gradually becoming an important non-drug alternative therapy26,27.
This article explains in detail the specific methods of auricular acupuncture for the treatment of COPD combined with sleep disorders, including patient qualification assessment, medical devices used, acupoints, courses of treatment, post-treatment care, adverse reactions, emergency response measures, etc. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment scale (CAT) were used as primary outcome measures for this method.
The effectiveness of this measure can be concluded by comparing the PSQI and CAT scores of patients before and after treatment. The advantages of auricular acupuncture, such as a simple operation, few adverse reactions, and low price, are worthy of further research and promotion and provide a reference for clinical treatment.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Cotton swab</td>
			<td>Qingdao Hainuo Biological Engineering Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20182640215</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iodophor cotton balls</td>
			<td>Qingdao Hainuo Biological Engineering Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20172140782</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Press needle</td>
			<td>Suzhou Acupuncture &#38; Moxibustion APPLIANCE Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20162200591</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surgical skin marker</td>
			<td>Dongguan Tondaus Meditech Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20202021011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezers</td>
			<td>Yangzhou Guilong Medical Devices Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20182010440</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

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.

The above protocol describes a before-and-after controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of auricular acupuncture in improving life and sleep quality in patients with COPD combined with sleep disorders. In this study, a total of 8 patients who met the criteria participated and completed the trial, and none of them were discharged or excluded during the process. The PSQI and CAT scales were used as the primary evaluation indicators for this trial, with data derived from the scores on the scales completed by patients b...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders at JoVE.com

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.

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 ...

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1.9K Views.  Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 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. 

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

Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Activation Using Respiratory Motor Control Assessment (RMCA) in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

During breathing, activation of respiratory muscles is coordinated by integrated input from the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. When this coordination is disrupted by spinal cord injury (SCI), control of respiratory muscles innervated below the injury level is compromised1,2 leading to respiratory muscle dysfunction and pulmonary complications. These conditions are among the leading causes of death in patients with SCI3. Standard pulmonary function tests that assess respiratory motor function include spirometrical and maximum airway pressure outcomes: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (PImax) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (PEmax)4,5. These values provide indirect measurements of respiratory muscle performance6. In clinical practice and research, a surface electromyography (sEMG) recorded from respiratory muscles can be used to assess respiratory motor function and help to diagnose neuromuscular pathology. However, variability in the sEMG amplitude inhibits efforts to develop objective and direct measures of respiratory motor function6. Based on a multi-muscle sEMG approach to characterize motor control of limb muscles7, known as the voluntary response index (VRI)8, we developed an analytical tool to characterize respiratory motor control directly from sEMG data recorded from multiple respiratory muscles during the voluntary respiratory tasks. We have termed this the Respiratory Motor Control Assessment (RMCA)9. This vector analysis method quantifies the amount and distribution of activity across muscles and presents it in the form of an index that relates the degree to which sEMG output within a test-subject resembles that from a group of healthy (non-injured) controls. The resulting index value has been shown to have high face validity, sensitivity and specificity9-11. We showed previously9 that the RMCA outcomes significantly correlate with levels of SCI and pulmonary function measures. We are presenting here the method to quantitatively compare post-spinal cord injury respiratory multi-muscle activation patterns to those of healthy individuals.

Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Activation Using Respiratory Motor Control Assessment RMCA in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

The purpose of this publication is to present our original work on a multi-muscle surface electromyographic approach to quantitatively characterize respiratory muscle activation patterns in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury using vector-based analysis.

During breathing, activation of respiratory muscles is coordinated by integrated input from the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. When this coordination ...

A Method for Zanba-Stir-Fried Tiebangchui Process Optimization

Optimization of Processing Technology for Tiebangchui with Zanba Based on CRITIC Combined with Box-Behnken Response Surface Method

The dried root of Aconitum pendulum Busch., called Tiebangchui (TBC) in Chinese, is one of the most famous Tibetan medicines. It is a widely used herb in northwest China. However, many cases of poisoning have occurred because of TBC's intense toxicity and because its therapeutic and toxic doses are similar. Therefore, finding a safe and effective method to reduce its toxicity is an urgent task. A search through the Tibetan medicine classics shows that the processing method of TBC stir-fried with Zanba was recorded in the "Processing specification of Tibetan medicine of Qinghai Province (2010)". However, the specific processing parameters are not yet clear. Thus, this study aims to optimize and standardize the processing technology of Zanba-stir-fried TBC.
First, a single-factor experiment was conducted on four factors: the slice thickness of TBC, amount of Zanba, processing temperature, and time. With monoester and diester alkaloid contents in Zanba-stir-fried TBC as indexes, CRITIC combined with the Box-Behnken response surface method was used to optimize the processing technology of Zanba-stir-fried TBC. The optimized processing conditions of Zanba-stir-fried TBC were a TBC slice thickness of 2 cm, three times more Zanba than TBC, a processing temperature of 125 &#176;C, and 60 min of stir-frying. This study determined the optimized and standard processing conditions for the usage of Zanba-stir-fried TBC, thus providing an experimental basis for the safe clinical use and industrial production of Zanba-stir-fried TBC.

Author Spotlight: Optimization of Processing Technology for Tiebangchui with Zanba Based on CRITIC Combined with Box-Behnken Response Surface Method  

The present protocol describes an efficient and standard detoxification processing method for Zanba-stir-fried Tiebangchui using CRITIC combined with the Box-Behnken response surface method.

The dried root of Aconitum pendulum Busch., called Tiebangchui (TBC) in Chinese, is one of the most famous Tibetan medicines. It is a widely used herb in ...

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Characteristic Therapy for Bronchial Asthma: Moxibustion

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway which can lead to symptoms such as recurrent wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or cough, as a result of increased airway reactivity. With high diurnal variation, these symptoms often occur or worsen at night or in the morning. By burning and roasting the Chinese medica above human acupoints, moxibustion is a type of treatment that stimulates the activity of the human meridians through drugs and heat stimulation to prevent and treat diseases. According to the principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, acupoints are selected on the corresponding parts, which has a definite effect. It is regarded as a characteristic traditional Chinese medicine therapy for bronchial asthma. This protocol elaborates the methods and steps of patient management, material preparation, selection of acupoints, operation, and postoperative nursing to ensure safe and effective moxibustion treatment to significantly improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life of patients with bronchial asthma.

This protocol presents a curative procedure of moxibustion in treating patients with bronchial asthma.

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway which can lead to symptoms such as recurrent wheezing, shortness of breath, chest ...

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 ...

Managing Gestational Vomiting with Ear Plaster Therapy

Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common symptoms that often complicate early pregnancy for many women. While clinical treatments such as fasting, fluid infusion, and nutritional support are conventionally applied to manage NVP, their effectiveness varies. However, traditional ear plaster therapy offers a promising alternative that effectively relieves symptoms and poses no known risk to the development of embryos or fetuses. This therapy is known for its ease of application, cost-effectiveness, and favorable outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of combining ear plaster therapy with conventional treatments in alleviating symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, surpassing the results achieved with conventional treatment alone. The protocol presented herein describes a method to relieve NVP using round, smooth, and hard cowherb seeds applied to specific ear points. These seeds are gently rubbed onto the surface of the ear, utilizing the principles of acupressure. By stimulating the designated ear points, this procedure aims to regulate the body's energy flow and restore balance, thereby reducing the severity and frequency of NVP. The application of cowherb seeds on specific ear points is a straightforward technique that healthcare professionals can easily implement or self-administered by pregnant women under appropriate guidance. Overall, ear plaster therapy presents a safe, effective, and economical approach for managing gestational vomiting, offering women a potential solution to alleviate their discomfort during pregnancy.

Author Spotlight: Alleviating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Safe and Effective Auricular Acupuncture 

The presented protocol describes a traditional Chinese medicine treatment procedure known for its safety and effectiveness in managing gestational vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common symptoms that often complicate early pregnancy for many women. While clinical treatments such as ...

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.

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. ...

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 ...

Establishment of the KOA Model in Rabbits Using the Modified Videman Method

Application of Acupotomy in a Knee Osteoarthritis Model in Rabbit

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most frequently encountered diseases in the orthopedic department, which seriously reduces the quality of life of people with KOA. Among several pathogenic factors, the biomechanical imbalance of the knee joint is one of the main causes of KOA. Acupotomology believes that restoring the mechanical balance of the knee joint is the key to treating KOA. Clinical studies have shown that acupotomy can effectively reduce pain and improve knee mobility by reducing adhesion, contracture of soft tissues, and stress concentration points in muscles and tendons around the knee joint. 
In this protocol, we used the modified Videman method to establish a KOA model by immobilizing the left hindlimb in a straight position. We have outlined the method of operation and the precautions related to acupotomy in detail and evaluated the efficacy of acupotomy in conjunction with the theory of "Modulating Muscles and Tendons to Treat Bone Disorders" through the detection of the mechanical properties of quadriceps femoris and tendon, as well as cartilage mechanics and morphology. The results show that acupotomy has a protective effect on cartilage by adjusting the mechanical properties of the soft tissues around the knee joint, improving the cartilage stress environment, and delaying cartilage degeneration.

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Mechanism of Action of Acupotomy in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis

In this protocol, a knee osteoarthritis model was prepared using the modified Videman method, and the operation procedures and precautions of acupotomy are detailed. The effectiveness of acupotomy has been demonstrated by testing the mechanical properties of quadriceps femoris and tendon and the mechanical and morphological properties of cartilage.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most frequently encountered diseases in the orthopedic department, which seriously reduces the quality of life of ...

Analyzing Tibetan Medicinal Plant APB Using 2D-HPLC-MS with Molecular Networking

2D-HPLC-MS Technology Combined with Molecular Network for the Identification of Components in Tibetan Medicine Aconitum pendulum

In this study, a comprehensive approach was employed, utilizing 2D-HPLC-MS technology in conjunction with the molecular network to unravel the intricate chemical composition of the Tibetan medicinal plant APB. Through the implementation of 2D-HPLC, enhanced separation of complex mixtures was achieved, enabling the isolation of individual compounds for subsequent analysis. The molecular network approach further aided in elucidating structural relationships among these compounds, contributing to the determination of potential bioactive molecules. This integrated strategy efficiently identified a wide array of chemical components present within the plant. The findings revealed a diverse spectrum of chemical constituents within APB, including alkaloids, among others. This research not only advances understanding of the phytochemical profile of this traditional Tibetan medicine but also provides valuable insights into its potential therapeutic properties. The integration of 2D-HPLC-MS and molecular network proves to be a powerful tool for systematically exploring and identifying complex chemical compositions in herbal medicines, paving the way for further research and development in the field of natural product discovery.

Author Spotlight: Integrating 2D-HPLC-MS and Molecular Networking in Natural Medicine Analysis

This study utilizes two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (2D-HPLC-MS) technology in conjunction with molecular networking to unravel the intricate chemical composition of the Tibetan medicinal plant Aconitum pendulum Busch (APB). The article provides a detailed protocol for the systematic exploration and identification of complex chemical components of herbal medicines.

In this study, a comprehensive approach was employed, utilizing 2D-HPLC-MS technology in conjunction with the molecular network to unravel the intricate ...

Standardizing Press Needle Treatment for Myopia with Dry Eye

Press Needle: A Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Myopia Patients with Dry Eye

Most patients with myopia have dry eye, which has been shown to adversely affect ocular symptoms, myopia progression, and quality of life in patients with myopia. Needle prickling has been shown to be effective in providing symptom relief in patients with myopia and dry eye. Press needle is a long-lasting, easy-to-operate, and inexpensive traditional Chinese medicine treatment. The standard practice of needle insertion is very important for the treatment of myopia and dry eye. The specific steps include selecting the appropriate acupoints, piercing them with appropriate needles, and fixing them in the skin or subcutaneously at the acupoints, burying them for 2 days, resting for 1 day; the course of treatment lasts for 2 weeks. Specifically, the following indicators were assessed: uncorrected visual acuity and the ocular surface disease index. This article will explain how to standardize the operation of a press needle in the treatment of myopia and dry eye.

Author Spotlight: Exploring Press Needle Efficacy and Underlying Molecular Pathways

Here, we present a protocol to standardize the operation of acupuncture in the treatment of myopia with dry eye.

Most patients with myopia have dry eye, which has been shown to adversely affect ocular symptoms, myopia progression, and quality of life in patients with ...