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Electroacupuncture versus Moxibustion for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Parallel-Controlled Trial
Yin Shi1, Yue-Hua Chen2, Xiao-Jun Yin1
1Department of Medical Clinic, Yueyang Chinese and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China.
Electroacupuncture (EA) and mild moxibustion (Mox) effectively treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms by modulating serotonin pathways. EA excels in constipation relief, while Mox is better for diarrhea, with both improving overall gastrointestinal and mental well-being.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Integrative Medicine
- Neurogastroenterology
Background:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by altered gut motility and visceral hypersensitivity.
- Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and its receptors (5-HT3R, 5-HT4R) play crucial roles in regulating gastrointestinal function and are implicated in IBS pathophysiology.
- Current IBS treatments offer limited efficacy and significant side effects, necessitating exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) and mild moxibustion (Mox) in managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms.
- To investigate the impact of EA and Mox on the expression of serotonin (5-HT), 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in colonic tissue of IBS patients.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 82 IBS patients allocated to either EA or Mox groups for four weeks.
- Assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms and mental well-being using the Visual Analogue Scale for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (VAS-IBS) before and after treatment.
- Measurement of 5-HT, 5-HT3R, and 5-HT4R expression in sigmoid mucosal tissue.
Main Results:
- Both EA and Mox significantly improved overall VAS-IBS scores, indicating symptom amelioration.
- EA demonstrated superior efficacy in alleviating constipation, whereas Mox was more effective for diarrhea.
- Treatment with EA and Mox normalized abnormal expressions of 5-HT, 5-HT3R, and 5-HT4R, with EA showing a notable advantage in regulating decreased 5-HT4R in constipated IBS patients.
Conclusions:
- Electroacupuncture and mild moxibustion are effective therapeutic options for irritable bowel syndrome.
- Both interventions modulate the expression of key serotonin pathway components (5-HT, 5-HT3R, 5-HT4R) in colonic tissue.
- EA and Mox offer distinct benefits for specific IBS symptom profiles, suggesting personalized treatment approaches.
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