Acupuncture for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized control study

Objective: To verify the effectiveness of acupuncture for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Methods: Sixty-five patients with IBS-D were randomized into an acupuncture group (33 cases) and a sham-acupuncture group (32 cases). In the acupuncture group, Tianshu ((SIC)ST25), Zhongwan ((SIC)CV12), Zusanli((SIC)ST36), Shangjuxu((SIC)ST37), Gongsun ((SIC)SP4), Fenglong ((SIC)ST40), Zhangmen ((SIC)LR13) and Yinlingquan ((SIC)SP9) were selected and stimulated with routine acupuncture technique, once every two days, 3 times weekly, for 8 weeks consecutively, 24 times in total. In the sham-acupuncture group, the sham-acupoints were selected, 0.5 cun or 1 cun superior, inferior, lateral or medial to the corresponding points separately. The blunt-tip needles were used to stimulate only the skin surface of each point. The treatment frequency and courses were the same as the acupuncture group. Before treatment, in 4 weeks of treatment, after treatment and in follow-up, the changes in the score of IBS symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS), Bristol stool form scale and defecation satisfaction were observed in the patients of two groups. After treatment, the effectiveness was assessed in the two groups. Results: In 4 weeks of treatment, after treatment and in follow-up, IBS-SSS score, Bristol stool form scale and defecation satisfaction were all lower than those before treatment in either group (all P < 0.01). Bristol stool form scale in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group in 4 weeks of treatment, after treatment and in follow-up, while, IBS-SSS score and defecation satisfaction were lower than the sham-acupuncture group in follow-up (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture can effectively relieve diarrhea and improves defecation satisfaction in the patients with IBS-D. (C) 2022 World Journal of Acupuncture Moxibustion House. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.