Ironing Therapy Combined with Acupoint Application for Treating Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Complicated with Functional Constipation

Summary

This study demonstrates the use of Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy combined with Acupoint plaster treatment for functional constipation in patients with stable-stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Abstract

In this study, we put forward a protocol for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who experience functional constipation during the stable stages, which combines the traditional Chinese Medicine Ironing Therapy with Acupoint plaster treatment. The Ironing Therapy can be briefly described as a therapeutic operation that combines Chinese herbal medicine with heat and some Chinese traditional massage techniques to directly contact the skin surface. This combination therapy has been shown to significantly relieve constipation symptoms in randomized controlled trials. Moreover, it is easy to implement, has few side effects, and is cost-effective, thus serving as an effective alternative method for managing constipation in COPD patients. Grounded in traditional Chinese medicine theory, this paper systematically elaborates on the methodology of integrating Ironing Therapy with Acupoint for treating constipation in COPD patients, including acupoint selection, key operational aspects, treatment duration, and specific procedures.

Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease primarily characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation¹. The global prevalence of COPD is currently estimated at approximately 480 million², with around 100 million patients in China alone-one of the highest COPD prevalence rates in the world^3,4. By 2050, it is expected that the global prevalence will rise to 600 million². As is well known, the treatment of stable COPD focuses on managing symptoms, preventing disease progression, and improving ....

Protocol

The protocol was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and was approved by the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (Ethics Approval No. 2024KL-193). The subjects of this study were patients with COPD combined with functional constipation who were treated at the Chengdu University of TCM Hospital. All patients voluntarily signed an informed consent form before participating in the study.

NOTE: COPD diagnostic criteria: Based on the Global Strategy for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management of COPD: 2025 Report³¹, considering clinical manifestations, history of exposure to risk fa....

Results

This study enrolled 20 COPD patients with functional constipation (FC) who visited the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital between December 2024 and March 2025. The patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (Ironing therapy ± acupoint plaster treatment) or the control group (oral lactulose), with 10 patients in each group. In the control group, there were 6 male and 4 female patients, with an average age of 73.90 ± 7.20 years and an average disease duration of 5.47 ± 1.85 ye.......

Discussion

Based on the TCM diagnostic principles of the four diagnostic methods, we use external treatment by first applying Ironing therapy to open the acupoints with both medicinal and thermal effects, which facilitates the flow of Qi and blood in the meridians. According to the principles of TCM's Ziwuliuzhu (the cycle of Qi movement through meridians), the lung meridian's flow time is between 3-5 AM, while the large intestine meridian's flow time is between 5-7 AM⁴³. Thus, treatment is applied during th.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Chinese herbal decoction piece rhubarb	Sichuan Guoqiang Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd	24120104
Chinese herbal decoction piece Fennel Seed	Sichuan Guoqiang Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd	24120104
Chinese herbal decoction piece Atractylodes macrocephala	Sichuan Guoqiang Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd	24120104
Chinese herbal decoction piece Radish Seed	Sichuan Guoqiang Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd	24120104
Chinese herbal decoction piece Semen Sinapis albae	Sichuan Guoqiang Chinese Medicine Decoction Pieces Co., Ltd	24120104
Disposable sterile rubber gloves	Shanghai Kebang Medical Latex Equipment Co., Ltd.	241030HM
Disposable acupoint patches	Jiangsu Guangyi Medical Dressing Co., Ltd.	20160028B27
Disposable sterile cloth bags	Anhui Meijianan Household Products Co., Ltd, Anhui, China	N411
Disposable tongue depressors	Yangzhou Xiaokang Medical Device Co., Ltd.	20240908
Grinder	Zhaofenger Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., Hunan, China	J80031
Gauze bag	Zhongxin Sanitary Materials Co., Ltd., Sichuan, China	20241222
Hand disinfectant	Gamma Disinfection Products (Foshan) Co., Ltd. Sichuan Branch	CNSQV6280590A
Iodine cotton swabs	Zhejiang Baikal Health Technology Co., Ltd.	20241201
Microwave	Galanz Group Co., Ltd., Guangdong, China	P70D20N1P-G5(W0)
Medical tweezers	Weigao Grope Medical Polymer Co., Ltd., Shandong, China	20222540118
Medical sterile cotton swabs	Chengdu Zhongxin Hygiene Materials Co., Ltd.	20250120
Medical adhesive tape	3M Medical Devices (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.	2406GA0
Treatment towel	Sichuan Hualikang Medical Technology Co., Ltd, Sichuan, China	2111901