Effectiveness and safety of heat-sensitive moxibustion on bronchial asthma: a Meta-analysis of randomized control trials

Abstract Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of heat-sensitive moxibustion (HSM) on asthma. Methods Large databases in China and overseas were searched by electronic and manual means to collect information on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two evaluators independently extracted data and evaluated the quality of RCTs according to Cochrane Review Handbook v5.0. RevMan v5.0.20 was used for statistical analyses. Results Fourteen RCTs involving 637 patients were collected. Thirteen RCTs compared the effects of HSM and Western Medicine. After 3-month treatment and after 6-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in effective rate [relative risk (RR) =1.01, 95% CI (0.92, 1.12), and 1.12, (0.93, 1.36), respectively], in the asthma control test score of asthma symptoms [weighted mean difference ( WMD ) = − 1.54, 95% CI (− 3.54, 0.47), and 1.41, (− 0.48, 3.29), respectively] and in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) and peak expiratory flow (PEF). One RCT compared the effect of HSM with warm-suspended moxibustion. After 6-month follow-up, there was a significant difference in FEV 1 and PEF [ WMD =0.51, 95% CI (0.10, 0.92), and 1.78, (1.06, 2.50), respectively]. After 3-month treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups. One RCT compared the effect of HSM with acupoint application. After 3-month treatment, there was no significant difference in the effective rate [ RR =0.68, 95% CI (0.42, 1.12)]. Conclusions HSM did not show superiority to conventional Western Medicine and acupoint application in terms of curative effects, and may be superior to warm-suspended moxibustion with regard to long-term curative effects. Because of low quality of the included RCTs, this conclusion must be bolstered with higher-quality RCTs.