A new acupuncture method for management of irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized double blind clinical trial

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is gastrointestinal functional disorder which is multifactorial with unknown etiology.Th ere are several modalities for treatment of it. Acupuncture is increasingly used in numerous diseases, also in gastrointestinal disorders like IBS. The purpose of the study was to assess the eff ects of catgut embedding acupuncture in improving of IBS. A randomized double blind sham control clinical trial was designed. A total of 60 IBS patients assigned to three separated groups. The first group received clofac as drug only group (DO). The second one received catgut embedding acupuncture in special point (AP) and the last group received sham acupuncture (SA). Symptoms, pain, depression and anxiety assessed before and after two weeks at the end of study. There was statistically signifi cant diff erence between AP and SA and DO in constipation and bloating. Differences that were statistically significant favored acupuncture on pain (F = 6.409, P = 0.003), and depression (F = 6.735,P = 0.002) as the other outcomes. Th e average (standard deviation (SD)) of weight loss was 2 kg (0.88) in acupuncture group. Our finding showed a significant positive associated between acupuncture and IBS. Catgut embedding acupuncture is a new method which can eliminated IBS symptoms and can use as alternative therapeutic method for improvement of IBS.