Clinical study of acupuncture at force-sensitive acupoints in treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on force-sensitive acupoints with different sensitization degrees in treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D）.MethodsA 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.ResultsCompared 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 （PPPPPPPConclusionAcupuncture 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.