OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy differences between abdominal acupuncture and western medication for diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).

METHODSSixty-one patients with IBS-D were randomly assigned into an acupuncture group (30 cases after 1 dropping) and a western medication group (28 cases after 2 dropping). Acupuncture was used atpoints [Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4)],points [bilateral Huaroumen (ST 24), Wailing (ST 26)],point [bilateral Daheng (SP 15)], once every other day, 3 times a week. Pinaverium bromide tablet was used orally in the western medication group, 50 mg a time, 3 times a day. All the treatment was given for 4 weeks in the two groups. IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) and clinical symptom scores for abdominal pain and distension, diarrhea, poor stool output, defecation urgency and stool abnormality were observed before and after the treatment as well as 3 months after treatment. Adverse reactions were recorded and the effects were evaluated.

RESULTS①After treatment and at follow-up, the IBS-SSS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment (all<0.01). Compared with the western medication group, the scores and the improvements between the two time points and before treatment were better in the acupuncture group (<0.05,<0.01). ②The symptom scores in the two groups after treatment were lower than those before treatment including abdominal pain, abdominal distension, diarrhea, poor stool output, defecation urgency and stool abnormality (<0.05,<0.01), and the scores of abdominal pain, abdominal distension, diarrhea, poor stool output and stool abnormality in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the western medication group (<0.05,<0.01). ③The total effective rate and the cured and remarkable effective rate of the acupuncture group were higher than those of the western medication group [(86.7% (26/30) vs 64.3% (18/28),<0.05; 70.0% (21/30) vs 35.7% (10/28),<0.01)], and the therapeutic efficacy of the acupuncture group was better than that of the western medication group (<0.05). There was no adverse reaction.

CONCLUSIONAbdominal acupuncture is more effective for IBS-D than western medication and can relieve abdominal pain, abdominal distension, diarrhea, poor stool output, stool abnormality, with long-term effect.