Clinical Observation of Li Jiao Tong Fu Acupoint Thread-embedding for Functional Constipation / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Li Jiao Tong Fu (regulating the triple energizers and unblocking the Fu-organs) acupoint thread-embedding in treating functional constipation. Method Sixty eligible subjects were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupoint thread-embedding at Tianshu (ST25), Shuidao (ST28), Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37), and Danchangshu (BL25), once every 2 weeks, totally for 2 sessions. The control group was by sham thread-embedding at the same points with the same treatment duration. The Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptom (PAC-SYM), Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life (PAC-QOL), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and two factors from PAC-SYM, hard bower movement and bloating, were observed before and after the intervention, and the clinical efficacies were compared. Result The total effective rate was 83.3% in the treatment group versus 46.7%in the control group, and the total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The PAC-SYM, PAC-QOL, and bloating scores were significantly improved after the intervention in the two groups (P<0.05), and the improvements in the treatment group were more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). The score of hard bower movement was markedly improved after the intervention in the treatment group (P<0.05), and the score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Li Jiao Tong Fu acupoint thread-embedding is significantly effective in treating functional constipation, and it’s easy-to-operate, safe and reliable, and has a good compliance, thus worth promoting in clinic.