Moxibustion for COVID-19: a systematic scoping review

Area of Science:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Integrative Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Moxibustion is a widely used therapy in China for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
• Existing literature lacks a systematic review of moxibustion's role in COVID-19 management.
• This review addresses the need for a comprehensive overview of current topics and clinical findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically summarize and analyze themes and findings of published articles on moxibustion for COVID-19.
• To provide an overview of the current knowledge and practice of moxibustion in COVID-19.
• To identify key acupoints and techniques used in moxibustion for COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed, adhering to the PRISMA-ScR Checklist.
• Searched multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, CNKI, etc.) from inception to April 2022.
• Included 76 articles: reviews, clinical studies, systematic review protocols, and guidelines.

Main Results:

• All reviewed studies were conducted by Chinese researchers between January 2020 and March 2022.
• Moxibustion is considered feasible for preventing and treating mild to moderate COVID-19, with consensus on mechanisms and effectiveness.
• Suspended and gentle moxibustion were common, with acupoints ST36, CV8, CV6, CV4, CV12, GV14, BL13, LI4, ST25, and LR3 frequently recommended.

Conclusions:

• Moxibustion is a safe and convenient Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy effective in ameliorating mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
• The findings support moxibustion's role in managing COVID-19, particularly for milder cases.
• Further large-scale, well-designed research and international collaboration are essential for robust clinical validation.