Effect of warming needle moxibustion on pulmonary function of elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effects of warming needle moxibustion on pulmonary function of elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.MethodEighty elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were divided randomly into an acupuncture group and a drug group, with forty cases in each group. The patients in the acupuncture group were treated with warming needle moxibustion on specific acupoints. Main acupoints include Zùsānli ( ST 36), Fèishū ( BL 13) and Dìngchuaxn ( EX-B 1). Matching acupoints include Gāohuāng ( BL 43), Xīnshū ( BL 15), Dàzhuī ( GV 14) and Fēngmén ( BL 12). The acupoints were punctured with even reinforcing and reducing method. Meanwhile, two moxa stick of warming needle moxibustion were applied separately at the acupoints at back and ST 36. The needles were retained for approximately 0.5 h each time. The treatment was given every other day, 3 times a week and the course of treatment was 8 weeks. Patients in the drug group were treated by seretide inhalation (50 μg salmeterol and 250 μg fluticasone propionate), twice a day for 8 weeks. The improvement in pulmonary function and the symptom of chills and fever were compared between the two groups.ResultsAfter treatment, pulmonary function indices [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second to predicted value ratio (FEV1%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF)] of the patients in both groups were improved significantly compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P<0.05). Improvement in comprehensive scores of the symptom of chill and fever in the acupuncture group was significantly superior to that in the drug group after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment, respectively (P<0.05).ConclusionWarming needle moxibustion was obviously effective on the improvement in pulmonary function of elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.