The effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on the temperature over the body surface projection area of intestines in patients with functional constipation：a infrared thermography study / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on the temperature over the body surface projection area of intestines in patients with functional constipation. Methods A total of 30 patients with functional constipation were randomly divided into a electro-acupuncture stimulation group and a false stimulation group, with 15 patients in each group. The patients in the electro-acupuncture stimulation recived electro-acupuncture at bilateral points of Tianshu, Fujie and upper Juxu for 8 weeks, a total of 28 times stimulation;the patients in the false stimulation group received false electro-acupuncture at fake bilateral points beside Tianshu, Fujie and upper Juxu for the same stimulation period. Medical infrared thermal imager was adopted to record the temperatures over the body surface projection area of ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and small intestine. Results The temperature over the body surface projection area of of the ascending colon(33.35±0.96 ℃ vs. 34.62±1.15 ℃;t=2.977, P=0.010), transverse colon(33.32±0.97 ℃ vs. 34.60±1.23 ℃; t=2.839, P=0.013), descending colon(33.36±0.98 ℃ vs. 34.64±1.18 ℃; t=2.892, P=0.012), the small intestine(33.31±0.97 ℃ vs. 34.57±1.22 ℃; t=2.763, P=0.015)showed significant lower than those before the stimulation in the electro-acupuncture stimulation group. The temperature over the body surface projection area of of the ascending colon(33.74±1.25 ℃ vs. 34.52±1.64 ℃; t=1.701, P=0.111) transverse colon (33.71±1.27℃vs. 34.47±1.65℃;t=1.643, P=0.123), descending colon(33.72±1.25 ℃vs. 34.52±1.66 ℃; t=1.710, P=0.109), the small intestine(33.70±1.28 ℃ vs. 34.51±1.65 ℃; t=1.744, P=0.103)showed no significant different than those before the stimulation in the false stimulation group. Conclusion Electro-acupuncture stimulation can decrease the temperature over the body surface projection area of the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and small intestine.