Moxibustion for human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and its complications: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Researchers analyzed 11 studies involving 834 people with HIV or AIDS to see if moxibustion—a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that involves burning herbs near the skin—could help manage the disease and its complications. The studies looked at people with HIV infection, AIDS, or both, and examined complications including diarrhea, lung infections, anxiety, depression, and nerve pain. The main finding was that moxibustion, when added to standard HIV medications, may improve immune function by increasing CD4+ counts (important immune cells that HIV attacks) and may enhance quality of life. One study found that moxibustion combined with antiretroviral therapy reduced gastrointestinal side effects compared to medication alone (14% versus 32%). Several studies reported improvements in quality of life and symptom relief, though they measured these outcomes differently. However, the research had significant limitations: no studies tracked mortality rates or whether moxibustion prevented AIDS-related complications, and all studies had quality concerns that made the findings less reliable. None of the studies reported serious adverse events from moxibustion. While these preliminary results suggest moxibustion might be helpful as a complementary therapy alongside standard HIV treatment, the evidence is too limited to draw firm conclusions. Patients interested in trying moxibustion should discuss it with their healthcare team and seek treatment from a qualified, licensed acupuncturist experienced in traditional Chinese medicine.

This systematic review evaluated 11 RCTs (n=834) examining moxibustion for HIV/AIDS and related complications including diarrhea, pulmonary infection, anxiety, depression, and peripheral neuropathy. All included trials carried high or uncertain risk of bias. No trials reported mortality or AIDS complication incidence. Wheat-grain sized cone moxibustion demonstrated increased CD4+ counts in patients with lung infections (1 RCT, n=36, MD=78.83 cells/μL). Quality of life improvements were reported using WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-HIV instruments, though clinical heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis. Moxa stick moxibustion plus Western Medicine showed non-significant trends toward symptom resolution (2 RCTs, n=125, RR=1.19, 95% CI 0.99-1.43). Moxibustion plus ART reduced gastrointestinal adverse events versus ART alone (1 RCT, n=100, 14% vs 32%, P<0.05). Evidence quality was low to very low. Clinical takeaway: Moxibustion may offer adjunctive benefits for immune function and quality of life, but evidence remains insufficient for definitive recommendations.