ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the best program for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of constipation type.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-five cases of IBS were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A (n = 30) were treated by acupuncture combined with microorganism pharmaceutical preparations, group B (n = 35) by oral administration of medicine for loosening the bowel to relieve constipation plus microorganism pharmaceutical preparations, and group C (n = 30) by simple acupuncture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rates were 90.0%, 77.2% and 66.7%, in the group A, B and C, respectively, with a very significant differences as the group A compared with those in the groups B, C (P < 0.01), and with no significant difference as the group B compared with that of the group C (P > 0. 05). The intestinal available bacteria, bilidobacteria and lactobacillus, increased and enteric bacilli decreased in varying degrees in the 3 groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture combined with microorganism pharmaceutical preparations has a better therapeutic effect on irritable bowel syndrome of constipation type.</p>