A randomized controlled trial conducted in China and published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings has demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The study involved 531 patients who were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture group or a pharmacological treatment group. Patients received six weeks of treatment, followed by a twelve-week follow-up to assess long-term effects. The primary outcome measure was the change in total IBS-Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS) from baseline to week six. The acupuncture group showed a greater reduction in symptom severity compared with the pharmacological group. Importantly, the acupuncture group had sustained benefits observed and recorded 12 weeks after treatment cessation (1).
The acupuncture intervention followed a standardized protocol administered by licensed acupuncturists. Treatment targeted the following acupoints:
- ST25 (Tianshu)
- ST37 (Shangjuxu)
- ST36 (Zusanli)
- SP6 (Sanyinjiao)
- CV12 (Zhongwan) (2)
Sterilized, disposable stainless steel needles measuring 0.25 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length were used. Needle insertion was performed perpendicularly to a depth sufficient to elicit the deqi sensation. Manual stimulation techniques, including twirling and lifting-thrusting, were applied for approximately one to two minutes after insertion. Once the deqi response was achieved, the needles were retained for 30 minutes. Patients received acupuncture three times per week for six weeks, totaling 18 sessions per patient (3).
In contrast, the control group received standard pharmacological therapy based on their IBS subtype. Patients with constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) were given polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 at a dosage of 20 g per day, while those with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) received pinaverium bromide at a dosage of 150 mg per day. These medications were administered daily for six weeks (4).
At the conclusion of treatment, patients in the acupuncture group demonstrated a mean reduction in IBS-SSS of 123.51 points (95% CI, 116.61 to 130.42), compared with a reduction of 94.73 points (95% CI, 85.03 to 104.43) in the pharmacological group. The between-group difference was 28.78 points (95% CI, 16.84 to 40.72; P<.001), indicating a statistically significant greater reduction in symptom severity for the acupuncture group. Additionally, at the twelve-week follow-up, patients in the acupuncture group maintained lower IBS-SSS scores than those in the pharmacological group, indicating that the effects of acupuncture persisted beyond the treatment period (5).
The researchers note that potential mechanisms underlying acupuncture’s efficacy in IBS treatment include modulation of the enteric nervous system, which may regulate gastrointestinal motility and reduce symptoms of constipation and diarrhea. Acupuncture is also believed to influence visceral hypersensitivity, decreasing the sensitivity of the gastrointestinal tract to distension and pain. Furthermore, acupuncture’s anxiolytic effects could play a role in symptom improvement, given the well-documented relationship between stress and IBS severity. While these hypotheses remain under investigation, the significant symptom reduction observed in this trial supports acupuncture as a viable treatment option for IBS (7).
This study provides strong evidence that acupuncture is an effective and well-tolerated primary or adjunctive therapy for IBS. The sustained symptom relief observed at twelve weeks post-treatment indicates that acupuncture offers longer-lasting benefits compared with conventional pharmacological treatments. Given the acupuncture’s favorable safety profile compared with many medications, acupuncture should be considered as part of an integrative approach to IBS management, particularly for patients seeking non-pharmacological treatment options. Future research should further explore the biological mechanisms of acupuncture in IBS and assess the efficacy of longer treatment courses to optimize patient outcomes (8).
Source
1-8: Mayo Clinic Proceedings. “Efficacy of Acupuncture for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial,” 2023.
