Acupoint Application as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Fatigue Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and progressive airflow obstruction. Research has found that the prevalence of COPD is high and continues to rise globally and regionally. COPD has now become a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Fatigue is a subjective discomfort of the body and weakness that is closely related to physical and mental state and is a common symptom in patients with COPD. Fatigue can lead to limitations in daily functioning and decreased health-related quality of life, which in turn can severely affect the prognosis of COPD. At present, pulmonary rehabilitation is the main non-drug treatment for COPD fatigue, but patient compliance and participation are insufficient, the long-term maintenance effect is limited, and economic and time costs are high, so it is important to seek safer and more effective treatments. Acupoint application (AA), as one of the classic external treatment methods in traditional Chinese medicine, is characterized by its minimal side effects, ease of operation and dissemination, multi-target synergistic effects, and low economic costs. Preliminary findings show their role in improving the clinical symptoms of fatigue in COPD.This study will provide a detailed presentation of the process of using AA therapy to treat COPD and the observed trends, aiming to offer a reference for non-pharmacological treatment approaches.