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Comparison of electroacupuncture and moxibustion on brain-gut function in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and moxibustion therapies on patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).

Methods

A total of 60 D-IBS patients were randomly allocated to the EA group (30 cases) and moxibustion group (30 cases). Before and after treatment, the gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological symptoms were scored by Visual Analogue Scale, Bristol Stool Form Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD); the expressions of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in the sigmoid mucosal tissue were measured by immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, the effects on the functional brain areas of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), insular cortex (IC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were observed by functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Compared with before treatment, both EA and moxibustion groups reported significant improvements in abdominal pain and abdominal bloating after treatment (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The moxibustion group reported greater improvements in defecation emergency, defecation frequency, and stool feature than the EA group (P<0.01). Both HAMA and HAMD scores were significantly decreased in the moxibustion group than in the EA group (P<0.01). Both groups demonstrated signifificantly reduced expressions of 5-HT, 5-HT3R and 5-HT4R in the colonic mucosa after treatment (P<0.01), with a greater reduction of 5-HT in the moxibustion group (P<0.05). Finally, decreased activated voxel values were observed in the left IC, right IC and PFC brain regions of patients in the moxibustion group under stimulation with 150 mL colorectal distension after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while in the EA group only PFC area demonstrated a reduction (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Moxibustion can signifificantly improve the symptoms of D-IBS, suggesting that moxibustion may be a more effective therapy than EA for D-IBS patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yueyang Clinical School of Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Ji-meng Zhao  (赵继梦) & Xiao-jun Yin  (尹小君)

  2. Medical Imaging Department, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, 321000, China

    Jin-hua Lu  (卢金花)

  3. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, 321000, China

    Xing-kui Chen  (陈兴奎)

  4. Department of Digestive System, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, 321000, China

    Yue-hua Chen  (陈跃华)

  5. Radiology Department, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China

    Wei-jun Tang  (汤伟军)

  6. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 46202, USA

    Xiao-ming Jin  (金小明)

  7. Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China

    Lu-yi Wu  (吴璐一), Chun-hui Bao  (包春辉), Huan-gan Wu  (吴焕淦) & Yin Shi  (施 茵)

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  1. Ji-meng Zhao  (赵继梦)
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  2. Jin-hua Lu  (卢金花)
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  9. Chun-hui Bao  (包春辉)
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  11. Yin Shi  (施 茵)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yin Shi  (施 茵).

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Zhao, Jm., Lu, Jh., Yin, Xj. et al. Comparison of electroacupuncture and moxibustion on brain-gut function in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 21, 855–865 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2049-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2049-x

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