Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy on constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) treated with acupuncture for regulating the mind and strengthening the spleen and the impacts on the quality of life in the patients.
Methods: Sixty patients of IBS-C were randomized into two groups. In the acupuncture group (30 cases), acupuncture was applied to Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yintang (GV 29) and Baihui (GV 20), once a day, 5 treatments a week and 4 weeks treatment as one session. In the western medication group (30 cases), lactulose oral solution was prescribed, 15 mL each time, three times a day, 4 weeks treatment as one session. The symptom grade scale and the quality of life scale (IBS-QOL) were adopted to observe the changes in clinical symptoms and quality of life before treatment, after treatment and 2-month follow-up after treatment in the patients of the two groups separately.
Results: (1) Clinical symptom score: the difference in the symptom score at each time point was significant statistically in intra-group comparison (P < 0.01). In 1 week, 4 weeks of treatment and 2 months after treatment, the clinical symptom scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the western medication group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) IBS-QOL score after treatment was improved as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P < 0.01). The improvement of IBS-QOL at 2 months after treatment in the acupuncture group was apparently superior to the western medication group (P < 0.05). (3) The total effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in the acupuncture group and was 83.3% (25/30) in the western medication group. The overall efficacy in the acupuncture group was better than that in the western medication group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Acupuncture for regulating the mind and strengthening the spleen significantly relieves the clinical symptoms of IBS-C and improves QOL of patients. The total efficacy is superior to lactulose oral solution and presents a certain of long-term efficacy.