title: [A case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) successfully treated by acupuncture].
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves a decrease in respiratory function and limits daily activities. We report a COPD patient whose respiratory symptoms were improved by acupuncture treatment. A 66-year-old man visited Gifu University Hospital with breathlessness on exercise. Despite medication, his general condition worsened. A series of acupuncture treatments was subsequently started on October 27, 2001. He had level III breathlessness on JRS classification prior to acupuncture treatment, and his respiratory function parameters were VC: 3.54 L, FEV1: 1.19 L, FEV1% (G): 33.6% and %FEV1: 45%. The basic meridian points used were KI 3 (Fuliu), LU 9 (Taiyuan), LU 1 (Zhongfu), CV 12 (Zhongwan), CV 4 (Guanyuan), BL 13 (Feishu), and BL 23 (Shenshu). The acupuncture needles were retained for ten minutes in each session. This research design was used to detect the specific efficacy of acupuncture treatment After ten acupuncture treatments over two months, his walking distance, Borg scale and respiratory function were improved compared with before treatment. These findings suggest that acupuncture treatment may be efficacious for advanced cases of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medicine, Gifu University of Medicine.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namura
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asai
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuugetu
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Seigo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akao
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gotou
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012119:Respiration