OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and mechanism of acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) combined with oral administration of Gexia Zhuyu decoction on damp-heat ulcerative colitis at active phase.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of damp-heat ulcerative colitis at active phase, by using random draw method, were divided into an observation group and a control group, 60 cases in each one. Patients in the control group were treated with basic treatment combined with oral administration of Gexia Zhuyu decoction. Based on this, patients in the observation group were additionally treated with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36). The treatment was given both for 14 days. The efficacy, each symptom score, serum interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were observed.

RESULTS(1) After treatment, the total effective rate was 98.3% (59/60) in the observation group, which was significantly higher than 86.7% (52/60) in the control group (P<0.05). ( The improvement rates of ulceration, edema, erosion and polyp in the observation group were obviously higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). (3) After treatment, the symptom scores of diarrhea, bloody purulent stool, abdominal pain, tenesmus as well as inflammatory factors of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were all improved compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05); the differences between the observation, group and control group were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (4) During the 3-month follow up visit, the recurrence rate was 1.7% (1/59) in the observation group, which was significantly lower than 11.5% (6/52) in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Gexia Zhuyu decoction combined with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) could effectively improve efficacy, reduce recurrence rate, relieve clinical symptoms and prompt recovery of mucous membrane in patients with damp-heat ulcerative colitis at active phase, which is related with reducing the expression of inflammation.