Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Acupuncture

By Betsy Golem, LAc, DiplAc

Meridian Healing Works

. http://www.meridianhealingworks.com/

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Acupuncture

Stomach or intestinal cramps, bloating, passing gas, gurgling, diarrhea or constipation, are some of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. Otherwise known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) many of us have experienced these conditions at one time or another. Sometimes they can be short-lived, but sometimes they can persist for longer periods becoming chronic, life-long problems. Relief with current medications may only be a temporary fix. Acupuncture is known to offer complete relief, and reversal of IBS, and current research shows this.
Many things can contribute to IBS. Some foods can aggravate and cause intestinal inflammation. Stress or unresolved emotional situations often lead to digestive distress. Certain medications can upset the digestive process, and a combination of these can make a recipe for possibly on-going digestive problems.
In 2014, the World Journal of Gastroenterology published a meta-analysis of existing research on IBS. The researchers indicated meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials suggests that acupuncture improves the symptoms of IBS, including abdominal pain and distention, sensation of incomplete defecation, times of defecation per day, and state of stool. Then they concluded that acupuncture exhibits clinically and statistically significant control of IBS symptoms.
A separate finding, based on one study in the meta-analysis, noted that acupuncture can regulate the parasympathetic nervous system. The researchers stated this study showed that improvement in pain in IBS was positively associated with increased parasympathetic tone in the acupuncture group.
The journal BMC Gastroenterology published the results of a randomized controlled study conducted at the University of York. This study was also part of the meta-analysis, and included 116 IBS patients receiving acupuncture plus conventional care, compared with 117 patients receiving conventional care alone. All participants had suffered with IBS for 13 years, on average. The clinical outcomes for the acupuncture plus conventional care group were significantly higher. The researchers declared, acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome provided an additional benefit over usual care alone. The magnitude of the effect was sustained over the longer term. Acupuncture should be considered as a treatment option to be offered in primary care alongside other evidenced based treatments.
The health information site, WebMd indicates that acupuncture is a popular alternative therapy for IBS and other conditions. And, in the meta-analysis mentioned above, researchers found no serious adverse events associated with acupuncture. All in all, acupuncture is found to be both safe and effective for treating IBS with long-term relief evidenced.