[Therapeutic effects of acupoint drug-finger pressing on gastroesophageal reflux]

To observe the clinical effects and possible mechanism of acupoint drug-finger pressing (ADFP) on gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

Eighty patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 40 in each group. The treatment group was treated by ADFP on Ganshu (BL18), Danshu (BL19), Weishu (BL21) and Pishu (BL20) acupoint of bilateral Foot-taiyang Bladder Meridians with pressing and kneading maneuver for 15 min each time, twice per day, while the control group was treated with acid-inhibitory and gastrokinetic drugs as omeprazole enteric-coated tablets (20 mg, once administration at a 12-h interval) and cisapride tablets (10 mg, thrice daily, taken 15 min before meals). The treatment course for both was 3 weeks.

The symptom score and esophageal pressure obviously decreased (P < 0.05), esophageal pressure was relieved remarkably (P < 0.05) in both groups after treatment with insignificant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). The ratio of 24-h esophageal reflux times and total reflux time, the times of reflux lasting for more than 5 min and the maximum reflux time were all lowered obviously in all patients after treatment, and the improvements was significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy suggested obvious amelioration in esophagitis. The total effective rate was 97.5% in the treatment group, significantly higher than that in the control group (80.0%) (P < 0.05). And no obvious adverse reaction was found.

Therapy of ADFP provides a new approach for GER treatment with TCM characteristics, prominent effects and less adverse reaction, and is easily be accepted by patients, so, it is worthy to be generalized.