Therapeutic effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of lung qi deficiency at the stable stage treated with ginger-separated moxibustion and Chinese herbal medicine atomization

Abstract

To compare the clinical effect on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of lung qi deficiency at the stable stage treated with ginger-separated moxibustion and Chinese herbal medicine atomizaiton. A total of 90 patients with COPD of lung qi deficiency at the stable stage were randomized into an observation group (45 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (45 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the observation group, the ginger-separated moxibustion was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13) and Gaohuangshu (BL 43), 2 moxa cones at each acupoint in each treatment. Additionally, the atomized inhalation with bufei decoction and erchen decoction was combined for 20 min, once every two days. The treatment for 10 times was taken as one course and 2 courses of treatment were required for 20 min. In the control group, ambroxol hydrochloride oral solution (10 mL) and compound methoxynamine capsules (2 capsules), were taken orally. Additionally, salbutamol aerosol was combined, 1 spray each time, three times a day, consecutively for 40 days. Before treatment and in 1-year followup after treatment, percentage of the forced expiratory volume in the first second predicated value (FEV1%) and its ratio to the forced vital capacity (FVC) (FEV1/FVC%) were determined in patients of the two groups. Before and after treatment, and in 3 months, 6 months and 1 year of followup after treatment, the score of COPD assessment test (CAT) and the score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom were observed in the two groups separately. The clinical effect was assessed in 3-month followup after treatment and the frequency of the acute attack of COPD was followed up in 1 year after treatment in patients of the two groups. In 1-year followup, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC% were increased in patients of the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment and in the followup of 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after treatment, CAT scores were reduced as compared with thoes before treatment in the two groups successively (P<0.01, P<0.05). In 1-year followup after treatment, CAT score in the observation group was lower than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment and in the followup of 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after treatment, the TCM symptom scores of cough, asthma, lassitude and spontaneous sweating were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.01), and the scores of cough and asthma were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the control group successively (P<0.01, P<0.05). After treatment and in the followup of 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after treatment, the scores of lassitude and spontaneous sweating in the observation group were lower than the control group successively (P<0.01). In the followup of 6 months and 1 year after treatment, the scores of cough in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rates were 88.6% (39/44) in the observation group and 93.0% (40/43) in the control group, without significance difference (P>0.05). In 1-year followup, the acute recurrence rate of COPD was 20.5% (9/44) in the observation group, lower than 32.6% (14/43) in the control group (P<0.05). As compared with western medication, the combination of ginger-separated moxibustion and Chinese herbal medicine atomizaiton achieves the superior effects of improving the lung functions, reducing the clinical symptoms and decreasing the frequency of acute attack in patients with COPD of lung qi deficiency at the stable stage.