April is designated IBS Awareness Month, and in recognition of this today’s post will review a recently published study which examined acupuncture for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
IBS afflicts up to 12% of Americans, with women nearly twice as likely to be affected, according to data from the NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating. IBS is often subdivided into either a constipative variety (IBS-C) or a diarrhea predominant variety (IBS-D). The cause of IBS is not clear, but what is clear is that IBS can become quite debilitating.
Medications that are often prescribed for IBS may be minimally effective, and/or have bothersome side effects, so patients with IBS are often considering alternative therapies, including acupuncture.
An international research group including researchers from China, Hong Kong, the UK and Australia recently performed a meta-analysis of the existing research studies regarding acupuncture for IBS. They included a total of 27 random controlled trials in their analysis, encompassing over 2100 subjects, ages 18-77 years. Therapies included in the studies were acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion and Geshanxiaoyao (a Chinese herbal formula), and a combination of these. The period of follow-up of the various trials ranged from two to seven weeks.
After performing the meta-analysis researchers discovered that the combination of needle acupuncture and Geshanxiaoyao formula had the highest probability of being the best choice for improving global IBS symptoms. The sensitivity analysis indicated that moxibustion, followed by needle acupuncture plus moxibustion, had the highest probability for improving global IBS symptoms. In addition, importantly, no adverse side effects from acupuncture or the other alternative therapies was noted.
Given that many who suffer from IBS do not do well with conventional treatments or do not tolerate them, perhaps in those cases acupuncture or moxibustion should be given consideration.
“Work hard, trust in God, and keep your bowels open.”– Oliver Cromwell
(Source- Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 2019, Vol. 12)
This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss and health concerns with your personal physician.