Therapeutic Observation of Acupuncture in Treating Functional Dyspepsia and Its Effect on Serum Ghrelin / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating functional dyspepsia due to liver stomach disharmony and its action mechanism.MethodSixty-eight patients were divided into an acupuncture group and a Western medication group by using the random number table, 34 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was intervened by acupuncture [majorly selecting Neiguan (PC6), Qimen (LR14), Zhongwan (CV12), Tianshu (ST25), Zusanli (ST36), Taichong (LR3), and Xingjian (LR2)], while the Western medication group was by using Domperidone tablets, both for 2 weeks. The syndrome score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), serum ghrelin content and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment for comparison and analysis.ResultThe total effective rate was 91.2% in the acupuncture group, significantly different from that in the Western medication group (P<0.05); after treatment, the TCM syndrome scores decreased significantly (P<0.05) and serum ghrelin contents increased significantly (P<0.05) in both groups; while the improvements were more significant in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture is effective in treating functional dyspepsia due to liver stomach disharmony, and its action mechanism is possibly related to the increase of serum ghrelin.