Therapeutic Observation of Puncturing Tianshu (ST 25) alone for Intractable Constipation in the Elderly / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of puncturing Tianshu (ST 25) alone in treating intractable constipation in the elderly.Method Totally 193 senile subjects with intractable constipation were randomized into group A of 57 cases, group B of 73 cases, and group C of 63 cases. Group A was intervened by acupuncture at Tianshu (ST 25), group B was by Lactulose oral solution, and group C was by retention enema. The clinical efficacies and effect-lasting time of the three groups were compared. Result The total effective rate was 89.3% in group A, versus 88.6% in group B and 92.1% in group C, and the between-group differences were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Of the markedly effective and improved cases, the effect-lasting time in group A was significantly different from that in group B and C (P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture at Tianshu (ST 25) alone is an effective method in treating senile intractable constipation.