Building up lasting evidence
- VernacularTitle:持続的なエビデンスをつむぐ －排尿障害に対する鍼灸治療－
- Author:
Hiroshi KITAKOJI
1
Author Information
- Keywords: Acupuncture; overactive bladder; frequent urination; urinary urgency; BL33; non-voiding contractions; moxibustion
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2024;74(3):141-146
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
- Abstract: The elderly comprise a high proportion of Japan's population (29% in fiscal year 2023), which is predicted to rise gradually into the future. The so-called '3Ms' are the factors considered to impair quality of life (QOL) in elderly persons, namely: "Mobility disorders: fall/non-ambulatory"; "Mentality disorders: cognitive disorder/dementia"; and "Micturition disorders：frequent urination/incontinence". Patients with micturition disorders are treated with drugs in Western medicine, but many still have complaints. The usefulness of acupuncture for the treatment of urination disorders will be reported based on the results of basic research using a pathology model. The clinical effect of acupuncture stimulation will be reported mainly for overactive bladder, a symptom characterized by the main complaints of frequent urination/feeling of urinary urgency. Basic research showed that acupuncture stimulation to the sacral area suppressed "non-voiding contractions (NVCs) not resulting in urination". Acupuncture stimulation of BL33/CV3 in patients with overactive bladder alleviated symptoms of urinary urgency/frequent urination/nocturnal frequent urination. Acupuncture stimulation of BL33 was postulated to relax tension of the bladder by improving bladder compliance.
