Acupuncture effect is more sustainable than drug treatment in treating irritable bowel syndrome

When acupuncture was compared with medication in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it was found improvement induced by acupuncture was more significant and lasted markedly longer than medication. The study was published in the journal of China and Foreign Medical Treatment. 

IBS is a common, long-term condition that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhoea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that you'll need to manage it for long term. The precise cause of IBS isn't known; however it is believed that it's related to increased sensitivity of the gut and problems digesting food. Conventional medication relieves symptoms but causes advertise effect if it is chronically used. Acupuncture has been used to help improve the symptoms of IBS for a long time in China.

A clinical study to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture with conventional medication was conducted with recruitment of 98 patients who suffered from type-D (diarrhea predominant) IBS, that were allocated into acupuncture group (n=49) and drug treatment group (n=49) respectively. In acupuncture group needles were applied on the following acupoints ST36, ST37, ST39, ST25 and CV4, once daily for consecutive 5 days (one course), then 2-day interval for total 4 courses.  Patients in drug treatment group were treated with the drugs flupentixol/melitracen (0.5/10 mg) and bacillus licheniformis (0.25 g) once daily for consecutive 4 weeks. Outcome measures included symptom scores and the total effective rates for each group. Symptom scores were used to assess loose bowel movements, frequency of bowel movements, and mucus in the stools. The total effective rates were calculated according to the degree of improvements. The cured, markedly effective, and effective cases were added together to calculate the total effective rate for each group. All measurements were monitored at the base line, the end of the treatment and 6 months after treatment.

The results showed that the acupuncture treatment had significantly greater relief, with a total effective rate of 97.96%, compared with 83.67% in the drug treatment group. Six-month follow up showed that only 6.12% of patients receiving acupuncture experienced recurrence of symptoms, compared with 24.49% in the drug treatment group.

The study indicated that acupuncture is not only more effective for relieving IBS symptoms but has more sustainable effect.

Reference:

Wang X, Therapeutic Effect of warm needle acupuncture on Diarrhea-Type Irritable Bowel Syndrome. China and Foreign Medical Treatment, 2018, Vol.29 pp.173-174.   https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1972-acupuncture-beats-drugs-for-ibs-relief

Acupuncture exerted a specific long-term therapeutic effect on irritable bowel syndrome

A 24-month follow up study of acupuncture treatment to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) suggests that significant beneficial effects of acupuncture observed between 3 and 9 months after treatment on IBS are unlikely to be due to the non-specific effect, rather likely is associated with the underlying physiological mechanisms of action. The study was recently published in journal Acupuncture in Medicine.

Dr. H MacPherson and colleagues conducted a 24-month follow up study having published their 12-month study in journal of BMC Gastroenterology (MacPherson et al. BMC Gastroenterology 2012, 12:150). In their 12-month study they found that acupuncture treatment significantly reduced IBS Symptom Severity Scores at the end of 3-month treatment (acupuncture weekly to 10 sessions) compared with the usual care control group. The benefits largely persisted 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment.

In their 24-month follow up study, no statistical significant difference of IBS Symptom Severity Scores was found between acupuncture group and usual care group at 24-month. They suggested that this may be, at least in part, linked with the progressive improvement reported within the usual care group.

The follow up study also found a statistically significant difference favouring acupuncture at 12-month, which was only shown a statistical tendency in the previous report. Further, authors suggested that sustainable therapeutic effects between the end of treatment at 3 months through 24 month indicated that obvious benefits of acupuncture represented more than a simple placebo response.

Reference

MacPherson H  et al., Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome: 2-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2016 Mar 15. pii: acupmed-2015-010854. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2015-010854.   http://aim.bmj.com/content/early/2016/03/15/acupmed-2015-010854.abstract

Catgut embedding acupuncture significantly improves irritable bowel syndrome

Catgut embedding, a special type of acupuncture technique markedly relived the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a report recently published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.

Catgut is a type of cord that is made from the natural fibres in the wall of goat or sheep intestines. Catgut is embedded on the acupoints for 7-10 days. It exerts continuous stimulation on the acupoint and enhances and prolongs its therapeutic effect. It is believed that catgut embedding acupuncture can improve body immune function, promote metabolism and is used to treat many conditions including body weight loss.

Researchers in Isfahan, Iran carried out a double blinded randomized clinical study to assess the effect of catgut embedding acupuncture on the patients with IBS. Sixty patients with IBS were recruited for the study and randomly divided into 3 groups. Real acupuncture group, catgut embedded on acupoints UB17, UB23, UB25. DU3, SP9, SP15, ST25, ST36, Ren12, and 4 and Kid15. Sham group, catgut embedded on sham acupoints GB26, SP8, 1 inch ST25, UB22, and Ren5. Medication control group. IBS symptoms such as pain, abdominal bloating, diarrhoea and constipation were assessed prior to and after the treatment.

Following 2-week treatment, patients in real catgut embedded acupuncture group reported a significant improvement in all symptoms compared with sham acupuncture and medication group. In addition, patients in real acupuncture group showed an average 2 kg weight loss.

 The study provided evidence that catgut embedded acupuncture is effective in treating patients with IBS.

Reference:

Rafiei R et al., A new acupuncture method for management of irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized double blind clinical trial. J Res Med Sci. Oct 2014; 19(10): 913–917.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25538771

Acupuncture is an effective therapy for irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is functional disorder of digestive system, commonly including abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. The condition often begins when a person is between 20-30 years of age. Women are more likely to develop IBS and often suffer more symptoms during their periods. Around 20% of people in the UK are affected by IBS. It is the most common functional digestive condition seen by GPs. Because it is typically a chronic and recurrent disorder the cost in terms of social, economic and health care utilization is substantial. 

The cause of IBS is unclear. Approximately 50% people with IBS can relate the start of symptoms to the stressful event. IBS symptoms tend to get worse during time of stress or anxiety. It is believed that hypersensitivity of sensory nerve in gut, infection in gut and intolerance of certain foods play important roles in the IBS. Reducing stress and anxiety, regular exercise, healthy diet and lifestyle tend to relieve IBS symptoms. Medications are necessary for some people with IBS to alleviate the symptoms; however, sometimes treatments are unsatisfactory.

Acupuncture is used to treat IBS in many countries including UK and its clinical efficacy of relieving symptoms in IBS was investigated. Recently an open pragmatic randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out by researchers in the Department of Health Science, University of York, UK. 233 patients with IBS, with average duration of 13 years were recruited and divided into two groups. 116 patients with IBS were given 10 weekly individualized acupuncture sessions, while 117 patients without acupuncture treatment as control group. The study showed that there was a significant reduction in IBS symptom severity score in patients within acupuncture group compared with control group by the end of treatment. The benefits of acupuncture lasted for further 9 months when the follow up tests were carried out at 6, 9 and 12 months. This study provides strong evidence suggesting acupuncture is very effective in treating IBS.

Reference:

H Macpherson et al., (2012) BMC Gastroenterology. 12:150.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23095376