Heat-sensitive Moxibustion as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Insomnia

This research evaluates the clinical efficacy and safety of heart-sensitive mucus burshing as a non-pharmacological treatment for COPD patients with insomnia, aiming to determine its impact on daily life and sleep quality. Current treatments include medications, oxygen therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, from the psychological support, acupuncture, and smart health devices all treat individual needs. Head-sensitive mucus burshing pinpoints responsible acupoints, providing process, drug-free relief for COPD-related insomnia with lasting benefits.

[Instructor] To begin, instruct the patient to lie in a prone position. Identify the Xinshu point, or BL15, located on the back, below the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebra, 1.5 Tsun from the posterior midline. Identify the Danshu point, or BL19, located on the back, below the spinous process of the 10th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 Tsun from the posterior midline. Now, identify the Pishu point, or BL20, located on the back, below the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra, 1.5 Tsun from the posterior midline. Identify the Feishu point, or BL13, located on the back, below the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra, 1.5 Tsun from the posterior midline. Identify the Shenshu point, or BL23, located on the back, below the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra, 1.5 Tsun from the posterior midline. For the thermal-sensitized acupoint positioning, grip a moxa stick at its proximal third and ignite it. For meridian moxibustion, position the lit end of the moxa stick perpendicularly above the meridian, maintaining a two to three centimeter distance from the skin. Move the stick at an even speed along the foot-Taiyang bladder meridian route for two to three minutes. For sparrow pecking moxibustion, place the lit end of the moxa stick perpendicularly above the acupuncture point, maintaining a two to three centimeter distance from the skin. Move the stick in a vertical pecking motion, keeping a constant distance. For gyratory moxibustion, position the burning end of the moxa stick perpendicularly above the acupuncture point, maintaining a two to three centimeter distance from the skin. Rotate the stick in a circular motion with a radius of 2.5 centimeters around the point. Similarly, for mild moxibustion, position the burning end of the stick perpendicularly two to three centimeters above the acupuncture point. Next, for the double point mild moxibustion, hold a moxa stick in each hand and ignite both simultaneously. Direct the sticks at two selected acupuncture points, maintaining a distance of two to three centimeters from the skin. Finally, extinguish the moxa sticks and clean any residues from the treatment area. A total of 12 patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and insomnia were included in the study and received heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment. This table shows the individual and total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, or PSQI scores of the 12 patients before and after treatment. PSQI scores significantly decreased across all factors, including sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disorder, and daytime dysfunction after heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment, with the total PSQI score also showing a marked reduction. The COPD assessment test score decreased after treatment, indicating an improvement in patients' quality of life. Interleukin-6 levels in serum decreased significantly following treatment, while serotonin levels showed a significant increase, supporting the therapeutic effect of the intervention.