Effect of Acupuncture on the Quality of Life in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Discussed Based on Brain-gut Interaction / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo testify the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS) based on brain-gutinteraction.MethodEighty D-IBS patients were randomized into brain-gut interacted acupuncture group (treatment group) and a group with acupoints selected based on conventional syndrome differentiation (control group), 40 in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture by selecting the thirteen ghost acupoints (invented by SUN Si-miao) plus Tianshu (ST25), Dachangshu (BL25), etc., while the control group was by acupuncture based on conventional point selection, including Zusanli (ST36),Tianshu (ST25), Dachangshu (BL25), Ganshu (BL18), Pishu (BL20), etc., three times a week, and 10 sessions as a treatment course. The clinical efficacies were evaluated after 2 treatment courses.ResultThe two groups were generally equal to each other incomparing each dimension of the Short-form Health Survey (SF-36) before treatment, while the scores were increased after treatment in both groups; the treatment group was significantly superior to the controlgroup in comparing the scores ofrole-physical,bodily pain, general health, vitality, social role functioning, and reported health transition from the SF-36 (P<0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture based on brain-gut interaction can produce a more significant effect in treating D-IBS compared to conventional acupuncture.