This work was supported by the 2022 &#34;Tianfu Qingcheng Plan&#34; Tianfu Science and Technology Leading Talents Project (Chuan Qingcheng No. 1090), the National TCM Clinical Excellent Talents Training Program (National TCM Renjiao Letter [2022] No. 1), &#34;100 Talent Plan&#34; Project of Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Hospital office [2021] 42), Special subject of scientific research of Sichuan Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (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. KY 2022010).
1. Equipment preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare disposable sterile acupuncture needles (size 0.25 mm x 40 mm), moxa sticks (size 1.2 cm x 1.2 cm), medical sterilization swabs, iodophor swabs, lighter, and several 60 mm x 60 mm cardboards (see Figure 1).</li>
</ol>
2. Doctor preparation
<ol>
	<li>Ensure that patients meet the diagnostic criteria for COPD in the Primary Care Guidelines for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and have abdominal distension.</li>
	<li>Exclude patients with the following conditions:(1) those with skin ulceration, poor glycemic control, poor blood pressure control, and dizziness; (2) those with silicosis, tuberculosis, malignant tumors, asthma, coagulation disorders, and severe cardiac insufficiency; (3) those with rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, renal failure, liver failure, and so on; (4) those with poor compliance.</li>
	<li>Wear a medical mask and hat.</li>
	<li>Wash the hands with soapy water, leave them dry, and use alcohol hand sanitizer before holding the needle to operate.</li>
</ol>
3. Patient preparation
<ol>
	<li>Ask the patient to empty the bladder.</li>
	<li>Measure the patient&#39;s blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.</li>
	<li>Make sure the skin is not damaged and festering.</li>
	<li>After the above basic signs are normal, instruct the patient to choose the supine or prone position to expose the acupuncture points.</li>
	<li>Advise the patient to inform the physician in case of discomfort during the procedure.</li>
</ol>
4. Acupoints selection
<ol>
	<li>Wipe the skin of the sites to be needled with Iodophor swabs.</li>
	<li>According to the standardized acupuncture points, choose Feishu (BL13), Taiyuan (LU9), Dingchuan (EX-B1), Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (RN12), Tianshu (ST25)24,25,26 (see Figure 2).</li>
</ol>
5. Acupuncture and needling manipulation
<ol>
	<li>Stretch out flat the five fingers of the left hand, and place apart the index and middle fingers at the place of stabbing.</li>
	<li>Hold the needle handle by the thumb and index finger of the right hand, the end of the middle finger is close to the point, and the finger belly is against the needle body.</li>
	<li>Press downward the thumb and index finger while the middle finger is flexed and insert the needle into the international standardized acupuncture angles and depths.</li>
	<li>Uniformly lift and thrust the needle handle along the acupuncture angle, the depth is about 3 mm, and the frequency is about 60 times/min27.</li>
	<li>Rotate the needle handle forward and backward at an angle of 180 degrees or less; the frequency is about 60 times/min until the patient feels De-qi27.</li>
</ol>
6. Place moxa sticks
<ol>
	<li>Lit the moxa sticks from the bottom 2-3 cm from the skin28 so that the patient has a warm sensation and redness on the body surface. Treatment takes about 30 min.</li>
</ol>
7. Place cardboards
<ol>
	<li>Place the 60 mm x 60 mm cardboard under the moxa sticks to prevent the ash from burning the skin until the moxa sticks burn out (see Figure 3).</li>
</ol>
8. Picking the needles
<ol>
	<li>Gently pick up the burned-out moxa sticks with the end of the bamboo swab.</li>
	<li>Gently apply pressure to the needle sites with medical sterilization swabs in the hand.</li>
	<li>Do a small twist with the needles and slowly lift them to the subcutaneous, leave them for a moment, and then remove them.</li>
	<li>After the needles come out, use medical sterilization swabs to lightly press the needle holes for a moment to prevent bleeding and reduce pain.</li>
	<li>After the needles are withdrawn, carefully check whether the needle holes are bleeding, ask the patient whether there is any discomfort, and check whether the number of needles is missing.</li>
</ol>

Warm Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Relieve COPD with Abdominal Distension

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

It is well known that the pathogenesis of abdominal distension caused by COPD is not fully understood, which hinders the development of new therapies and drugs. In recent years, warm acupuncture and moxibustion have been widely applied to COPD combined with abdominal distention.The therapeutic mechanism of warm acupuncture and moxibustion is mainly the effect of acupuncture, the moxibustion warming effect, and the heat-conducting effect of the needle body31. Moxibustion focuses on the local warmin...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic consumptive disease of the respiratory system. Patients with COPD mainly manifest in chronic cough and sputum, with the progressive development of the disease and gradual decline in lung function. The disease may be complicated by chronic pulmonary cardiac disease, respiratory failure, and heart failure in the later stages of the disease, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. It is reported that alterations in gut microbiota are associated with disease progression in COPD1. In addition to pulmonary symptoms, 40.31% of patients with stable COPD reported abdominal distention. Abdominal distension can have a significant impact on worsening pulmonary symptoms, increasing the frequency of acute exacerbations of COPD, and impairing the quality of life of patients with stable COPD2,3. The causes of abdominal distension in COPD are considered to be multifactorial which may include as follows: (1) dysbiosis of bacteria; (2) ascites, which increases intra-abdominal pressure; (3) electrolyte disturbances; (4) right heart failure and congestion of the liver or digestive tract; (5) prolonged bed rest4; (6) medications5 and mechanical ventilation6.
Some Chinese medicine scholars have proposed that the development process of COPD is the process of four states:(1) lung qi deficiency; (2) spleen qi deficiency; (3) kidney qi deficiency; (4) Yin and yang deficiency7,8. If the spleen fails to transport and transform and the stomach is weak and unable to receive, abdominal distension may occur, which in turn can lead to muscle thinning and weakness due to the lack of chemical sources9. At present, the drugs commonly used in the clinical treatment of COPD include bronchodilators, glucocorticoids, antibiotics, and other drugs10. There are no guidelines specifying standardized treatment protocols for COPD combined with abdominal distention, which is often treated symptomatically.
Warm acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine can guide Qi to dredge the meridians, invigorate blood circulation, remove blood stasis, replenish deficiency to warm yang, and dissipate cold. They can produce antioxidant substances and thus play a regulatory role, which can promote immune system stress response and improve blood circulation11,12. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion can be used to treat cervical spondylosis13, knee arthritis14, dysmenorrhea15, constipation16, irritable bowel syndrome17, and so on. Experimental studies have turned out that acupuncture can relieve abdominal distension by regulating the brain-gut axis18. Acupuncture combined with moxibustion significantly reduces abdominal distention19, which may be exerted through the regulation of plasma prostaglandin E2 and gastrin levels in plasma and gastric mucosal tissues20. Meanwhile, warm acupuncture and moxibustion are superior to prokinetics and sham acupuncture in terms of improving the symptoms of functional dyspepsia21. Acupuncture can strengthen the diaphragm and relieve respiratory muscle fatigue, as well as improve carbon dioxide retention, and hypoxia, and prevent and relieve respiratory failure22. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion improve lung function, clinical symptoms, and quality of life in patients with stable COPD23,24.
According to the theory of Chinese medicine that &#34;The lung stands in interior-exterior relationship with the large intestine&#34;, the warming acupuncture and moxibustion treatment used in this study aim to promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function and improve pulmonary function and quality of life. Warm acupuncture and moxibustion are highly effective, easy to perform, and inexpensive forms of traditional Chinese medicine treatments. In conclusion, it is necessary to propose a standard protocol on how to properly operate the use of warm acupuncture and moxibustion to relieve COPD with abdominal distension. This article describes how to properly manipulate the use of warm acupuncture and moxibustion treatment to relieve COPD with abdominal distension.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Moxa stick</td>
			<td>Dr. Moxi</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>size: 1.2 cm x 1.2 cm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disposable sterile acupuncture needle</td>
			<td>HWATO</td>
			<td>2001-0020</td>
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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.

General conditions 
A total of 12 patients (Table 1) with COPD combined with abdominal distension were divided into observation and control groups, with 6 cases in each group, respectively. All met the diagnostic criteria of the &#39;&#39;Primary Care Guidelines for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (2018)&#39;&#39;29 and had abdominal distension. The control group was given pseudo-needling. We chose the same acupoints as the observation group and inserte...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about An Effective Traditional Chinese Medicinal Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Abdominal Distension at JoVE.com

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.

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 ...

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1.2K Views.  Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Here, we present a protocol to properly manipulate warm acupuncture and moxibustion for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with abdominal distension. 

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

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 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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Advanced Lung Imaging for Disease Detection and Monitoring

Phase-Resolved Functional Lung MRI for Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion (V/Q) Assessment

Fourier decomposition is a contrast agent-free 1H MRI method for lung perfusion (Q) and ventilation (V) assessment. After image registration, the time series of each voxel is analyzed with regard to the cardiac and breathing frequency components.
Using a standard 2D spoiled gradient-echo sequence with a temporal resolution of ~300 ms, an image-sorting algorithm was developed to produce phase-resolved functional lung imaging (PREFUL) with an increased temporal resolution. Thus, it is feasible to evaluate regional flow volume loops (FVL) during tidal volume breathing and depict the propagation of the pulse wave during the cardiac cycle. This method can be applied at 1.5T or 3T with standard MR hardware without the necessity for sequence programming, as the described protocol can be implemented with the default SPGRE sequence on most systems.
PREFUL ventilation MRI has been validated using 129Xe and 19F gas imaging with good regional agreement. Perfusion-weighted PREFUL MRI has been validated using SPECT as well as dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI. PREFUL has been tested in a dual center dual vendor setting and is currently applied in several ongoing multicenter trials. Furthermore, it is feasible across a range of field strengths (0.55T-3T) and different age groups, including newborns.
Quantitative V/Q PREFUL MRI has been used in patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and corona virus disease-2019 to quantify disease and monitor treatment change after therapy. Furthermore, PREFUL V/Q imaging has been shown to predict transplant loss due to chronic lung allograft dysfunction in patients after lung transplantation. In summary, PREFUL MRI is a validated technique for quantitative ventilation and pulmonary pulse wave/perfusion imaging for regional pulmonary disease detection, quantification, and treatment monitoring with potential added value to the current clinical routine.

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Diagnostic Strategies and Biomarker Development for Comprehensive Lung Function Analysis

Here, we describe the implementation of phase-resolved functional lung MRI as a contrast-agent-free proton MR technique for the assessment of pulmonary ventilation and perfusion dynamics. Validated and applicable across different field strengths and age groups, it could enhance clinical decision-making in the future by aiding in disease quantification and therapy monitoring.

Fourier decomposition is a contrast agent-free 1H MRI method for lung perfusion (Q) and ventilation (V) assessment. After image registration, the time ...

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, ...

Herbal Moxibustion on Shenque Acupoint for Alleviating Primary Dysmenorrhea

Herbs-Partitioned Moxibustion on the Navel in a Rat Model of Primary Dysmenorrhea with Cold Coagulation and Blood Stasis

Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) refers to the occurrence of spasmodic colicky pain in the lower abdomen without any obvious pelvic pathology, often accompanied by other systemic symptoms, which significantly reduces the quality of life of women with PDM, 45%-95% of menstrual women are affected by it. Despite the high incidence of PDM, it is often not well treated and is ignored by relevant researchers and women themselves. Herbs-partitioned moxibustion (HPM) is a characteristic external therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is widely used to treat diseases in China; it treats diseases by applying a Chinese herbal formula on the patient's acupoints and then igniting moxa sticks on the herbal formula for moxibustion therapy. The primary effectiveness of the herbs utilized in this study is meridian activation and warmth, which encourages qi circulation to relieve pain. Moxibustion's heat stimulation could hasten the infusion of the herbs into the human body. Consequently, HPM, which combines acupoint, herbal, and heat stimulations, is appropriate for treating gynecological disorders, particularly functional diseases such as PDM. This paper provides a detailed description of the procedures and precautions for HPM at the Shenque (CV8) acupoint in female experimental rats, which 0provides an experimental basis for better promoting the application and development of HPM on the navel in PDM.

Here, we describe in detail the operation procedures and precautions to be taken during herbs-partitioned moxibustion on the navel in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in rats with cold coagulation and blood stasis, which can significantly improve the writhing reaction of dysmenorrhea rats and alleviate pain.

Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) refers to the occurrence of spasmodic colicky pain in the lower abdomen without any obvious pelvic pathology, often accompanied ...

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. ...