Lung function is a core objective indicator for evaluating the efficacy of COPD treatment, reflecting the degree of airflow limitation. In this study, although there was a trend toward improvement in FEV1/FVC, FEV1, and FEV1% pred in the control group after treatment, these changes did not reach statistical significance. This suggests that conventional Western medicine alone has limited effectiveness in improving lung function in patients with stable COPD, particularly those with qi deficiency of the lungs and spleen, which leads to intestinal dysbiosis and chronic low-grade inflammation in the lungs, exacerbating airway remodeling and airflow limitation. While some airflow limitation is partially reversible, it is difficult to fully restore.
In contrast, the experimental group showed significant improvements in FEV1/FVC, FEV1, and FEV1% pred after treatment, and these improvements were significantly greater than those in the control group. This result indicates that the combination of Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 (a traditional Chinese medicine) and conventional Western medicine has a synergistic effect in improving airflow limitation. The improvement in lung function may be attributed to several factors:
- Immunomodulatory Effects: The herbs in Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏, such as Astragalus (Huang Qi) and Codonopsis (Dang Shen), have immunomodulatory properties that reduce airway inflammation.
- Anti-inflammatory Metabolites: Regulation of the gut microbiota produces anti-inflammatory metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, which can act on the lungs through the bloodstream.
- Enhanced Treatment Adherence and Recovery: Improved overall health status enhances patient adherence to treatment and rehabilitation outcomes.
Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 works by regulating the function of the large intestine and replenishing the qi of the lungs and spleen. On one hand, it restores normal physiological functions of the intestines, reducing the release and absorption of inflammatory factors, thereby alleviating chronic lung inflammation via the gut-lung axis and protecting the airway mucosa, thus improving airflow limitation. On the other hand, by replenishing the qi of the lungs, it enhances the lungs' ability to ventilate and breathe, improving ventilation efficiency.
The improvement in lung function indicators fundamentally reflects the protective and restorative effects of Bu Xu Ping Chuan膏 on lung physiological functions through the "lung and intestine co-treatment" approach. This is a direct manifestation of holistic TCM treatment guided by the theory that "the lungs and large intestine are interrelated." Experimental studies have shown that regulating gut function can significantly reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in the lungs of COPD animal models, improve airway remodeling, and enhance lung function indicators. The clinical results of this study are consistent with these basic research findings, further elucidating the mechanism of "regulating the intestines to benefit the lungs" and bridging the gap between TCM theory, basic experiments, and clinical research.
