Acupuncture is effective for the alleviation of abdominal distention and fullness due to chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and gastroptosis. Guangdong Yangjiang People’s Hospital researchers conducted a clinical trial and determined that three separate treatment protocols are effective. The three approaches to acupuncture care alleviate Pi Man (痞满), which is abdominal distention and fullness due to chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and gastroptosis. [1]
The researchers used the following study design. The sample of patients was comprised of 80 cases admitted into the hospital. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. For the observation group, 27 were male and 13 were female. Age range was 18 to 69 years, and mean age was 49.38 ±7.71 years. The course of disease was 1 month to 8 years, and average course of disease was 2.37 ±0.85 years: 17 cases were chronic gastritis, 15 cases were functional dyspepsia, and 8 cases were gastroptosis.
For the warm needle acupuncture group, 25 were male and 15 were female. Age range was 25 to 75 years, and mean age was 52.22 ±8.04 years. The course of disease was 3 months to 10 years, and average course of disease was 2.55 ±0.80 years: 20 cases were chronic gastritis, 13 cases were functional dyspepsia, and 7 cases were gastroptosis.
The drug observation group receive 20 mg rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets (a gastric acid secretion inhibitor), daily, and one additional pharmaceutical medication. Patients underwent 14 days of treatment. The other group was given warm needle acupuncture but did not receive medications. For patients with functional dyspepsia, the following acupoints were chosen:
- ST36 (Zusanli)
- CV12 (Zhongwan)
- PC6 (Neiguan)
- LR3 (Taichong)
- BL21 (Weishu)
- PL20 (Pishu)
- ST25 (Tianshu)
- ST21 (Liangmen)
For chronic gastritis, the following points were chosen:
- ST36 (Zusanli)
- CV12 (Zhongwan)
- PC6 (Neiguan)
- BL20 (Pishu)
- BL21 (Weishu)
- SP6 (Sanyinjiao)
- CV4 (Guanyuan)
For gastroptosis, the following points were chosen:
- ST36 (Zusanli)
- CV12 (Zhongwan)
- CV13 (Shangwan)
- BL21 (Weishu)
- ST25 (Tianshu)
- CV6 (Qihai)
- GV20 (Baihui)
For most points, a supine position was taken. For Weishu and Pishu, a lateral position was taken. For Zusanli, needles were inserted perpendicularly, with a 20–50 mm length needle. For Zhongwan, Shangwan, Qihai, Guanyuan, and Tianshu, needles were inserted perpendicularly, with a 20–40 mm length needle. For Pishu and Weishu, needles were inserted perpendicularly, with a 13–25 mm length needle. For Liangmen, needles were inserted perpendicularly, with a 13–20 mm length needle. For Neiguan, needles were inserted perpendicularly, with a 13–25 mm length needle. For Taichong, needles were inserted perpendicularly, with a 13–20 mm length needle. For Sanyinjiao, needles were inserted perpendicularly, with a 25–40 mm length needle. For Baihui, needles were inserted obliquely, with a 20–50 mm length needle.
After a deqi sensation was achieved, needles were retained for 30 minutes. During the 30 minutes, moxa (2 cm in length) was connected to the end of the needles. Three moxa pieces were applied for each point. Treatment was administered for 14 days. A symptom scoring system was used to record and assess treatment outcomes. The system used 3 levels:
- Level 1: 10-28 points
- Level 2: 28-56 points
- Level 3: over 56 points
Upon completion of treatment, the score for the arm needle acupuncture group decreased significantly from 36.07 ±5.80 to 11.72 ±3.60, while that of the other group demonstrated a smaller improvement from 34.73 ±5.17 to 25.08 ±5.51. The decreases in numerical values are proportional to decreases in abdominal distention and fullness. The study indicates that warm needle acupuncture is an effective treatment protocol for abdominal distention and fullness caused by chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and gastroptosis.
Reference:
[1] Lin Qiuyi, Cai Zhixiao, Liang Jiyuan, Clinical Observation of Treating Abdominal distention and fullness, China Snaturopathy, April. 2021, Vol. 29 No. 8.
