Objective Based on the theory of "lung and large intestine form", to observe the improvement of gastrointestinal function and pulmonary symptoms in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with phlegm heat accumulation and find the best meridians and acupoints. Methods A total of 120 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with phlegm heat accumulation and gastrointestinal dysfunction were randomly divided into intervention 1 group (lung meridian group), intervention 2 group (large intestine meridian group) and intervention 3 group (lung meridian and large intestine meridian group) and control group. There were 30 cases in each group. The control group was given conventional treatment and nursing. The intervention group was treated with acupoint massage along meridians, 1 times a day for 20 minutes, and the intervention lasted for 10 days. The scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, clinical symptom scores and C reactive protein among 4 groups were compared. Results The scores of gastrointestinal symptoms, clinical symptom scores and C reactive protein were decreased in all groups after intervention compared with those before intervention, and the difference was statistically significant (F=9.736, 2.980, 0.894, P<0.01 or 0.05). After intervention, the difference of the scores of gastrointestinal symptoms among four groups were statistically significant (Ftime=213.423, F interaction =2.540, Fgroup =3.184, P<0.01 or 0.05). The difference of the scores of clinical symptoms among four groups were statistically significant( Ftime =337.859, P<0.01). The difference of C reactive protein among four groups was statistically significant (F=0.894, P<0.05). Conclusions Acupoint massage can effectively reduce the score of the symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract, the integral of clinical symptoms and the C reaction protein, and the effect of the massage of the meridians and collaterals. The effect of massage in the lung and the coliform meridian acupoint group is the best.