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

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a global health concern and a heterogeneous lung disease characterized by persistent, progressive airflow obstruction due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities. COPD is associated with various comorbidities, including insomnia, which is a common underlying condition. Chronic insomnia exacerbates morbidity, increases hospitalization rates and healthcare costs, and reduces the quality of life in patients with COPD. Heat-sensitive moxibustion is an emerging therapy that utilizes heat generated by ignited moxa materials. This technique involves suspending moxibustion over heat-sensitive acupoints to stimulate various sensations, such as heat penetration, expansion, transfer, local non-heat with distant heat, superficial non-heat with deep heat, and non-thermal sensations. These effects, along with meridian Qi conduction, enhance the therapeutic efficacy of moxibustion, making it a distinctive Chinese medicine therapy for insomnia. This study evaluated the efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion in patients with COPD and comorbid insomnia. The results demonstrated that heat-sensitive moxibustion significantly reduced Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) scores, indicating improvements in sleep quality and overall quality of life. Additionally, serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were decreased, while 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels were increased, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying the observed therapeutic effects. This article provides a detailed protocol for standardizing the use of heat-sensitive moxibustion in the treatment of COPD with insomnia and presents clinical outcomes supporting its efficacy.