Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2026 Feb 25;51(2):233-239. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.20241084.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on force-sensitive acupoints with different sensitization degrees in treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).
METHODS: A total of 108 patients with IBS-D were randomly divided into a high-sensitivity group (36 cases, 2 cases dropped out), a low-sensitivity group (36 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a waiting group (36 cases, 2 cases dropped out). In the high-sensitivity group, 5 high-sensitivity (the lowest pain threshold) acupoints were selected in acupuncture treatment, and in the low-sensitivity group, 5 low-sensitivity (the highest pain threshold) acupoints were selected. The patients in both groups received 3 times of acupuncture treatment per week, lasting 6 consecutive weeks. The patients in the waiting group did not receive any treatment during the research and the non-investigational standard acupuncture therapy would be provided after follow-up, 3 times a week, for 6 consecutive weeks. The scores of IBS severity scale (IBS-SSS) and IBS quality of life scale (IBS-QOL), and fecal traits of Bristol fecal form scale (BSFS) were evaluated before and after treatment, as well as in follow-up. The occurrence of adverse reactions was recorded.
RESULTS: Compared with those before treatment, the scores of IBS-SSS and IBS-QOL in the waiting group were not significantly different after treatment or in follow-up;the scores of IBS-SSS and IBS-QOL in the high-sensitivity group and the low-sensitivity group were decreased at each time point (P<0.05). When compared with the waiting group, the score of IBS-SSS in either the high-sensitivity group or the low-sensitivity group were reduced, starting from 2 weeks after treatment and till the follow-up (P<0.05). In 4 and 6 weeks of treatment and during follow-up, the score of IBS-SSS in the high-sensitivity group was lower than that in the low-sensitivity group (P<0.05). In comparison with the score in the waiting group, the scores of IBS-QOL were reduced in both the high-sensitivity group and the low-sensitivity group after treatment and in follow-up (P<0.05);and the score in the high-sensitivity group was lower than that of the low-sensitivity group (P<0.05). In the waiting group, there was no statistically significant difference in fecal traits of BSFS after treatment and in follow-up, but the improvements in BSFS were obtained in the high-sensitivity group and the low-sensitivity group (P<0.01). When compared with the waiting group, the improvements in BSFS were presented in the high-sensitivity group and low-sensitivity group after treatment and in follow-up (P<0.01). No significant adverse reactions were observed in all groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture at force-sensitive acupoints has a definite curative effect on IBS-D. This therapy is high in safety and satisfactory in long-term effect. In the aspects of the alleviation of the severity of symptoms and the improvement of the quality of life in the patients with IBS-D, acupuncture at force-sensitive acupoints with high sensitivity is more effective than that with low sensitivity.
PMID:41735072 | DOI:10.13702/j.1000-0607.20241084
