[Acupoint application therapy for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome with spleen deficiency and dampness...

To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint application in the treatment of diarrhea type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) with spleen deficiency and dampness retention.

88 patients with spleen deficiency and dampness retention type IBS-D were randomly divided into a control group (44 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 exclusion) and an experimental group (44 cases, 2 cases dropped out). The control group was given Bifidobacterium triple active bacteria capsules (Bifico) orally, 0.48 g each time, twice a day. Patients in the experimental group applied joint acupoint plaster to Shenque (CV8) in addition to the control group for 12 h each time, once a day. Both groups underwent treatment for 7 d per course, totaling 4 courses. The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, IBS severity scale (IBS-SSS) score, and IBS stool characteristics questionnaire (IBS-DSQ) score of the 2 groups were recorded before and after 4 weeks of treatment, and the clinical efficacy of the 2 groups were observed.

After treatment, the TCM syndrome score, IBS-SSS score, and IBS-DSQ score of both groups of patients was decreased compared to those before treatment (P<0.001), and the experimental group was significantly better than the control group (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.05);the symptom scores of diarrhea, abdominal pain, and abdominal fullness in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05), while there were no statistically significant difference in the scores of fatigue and drowsiness, and anorexia between the two groups. The total effective rate of the experimental group was 88.1% (37/42), which was higher than the control group's 73.8% (31/42), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).

Acupoint application at CV8 can effectively improve diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and stool characteristics in patients with spleen deficiency and dampness retention type IBS-D, and improve their quality of life. The efficacy is definite, safe, and reliable, and it is worthy of further clinical promotion and application.