Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS can result in symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits that can adversely affect a person’s quality of life. For many, treatments and dietary changes can improve symptoms, but sufferers of refractory IBS often find that these have no impact. However, a recent study suggests that acupuncture may be an effective treatment.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture has a long tradition in Eastern medicine of thousands of years. During treatment, a practitioner inserts fine needles at specific points on the body to help regulate the flow of energy.
If you feel that the recent study looks promising and you want to know more about how acupuncture can help treat your IBS, an internet search should reveal a number of practitioners in your area. For example, if you live in Evesham, search for ‘acupuncture Evesham’ and you will get results for practitioners such as Purelands Acupuncture.
The Study
The study was carried out on 170 adults who were assigned at random into a group of 85 patients who were given acupuncture and 85 into a sham acupuncture group. Over 12 sessions, those in the first group received acupuncture treatment while the sham group received superficial needling at points of the body unrelated to acupuncture to check for a placebo effect. The results showed there was a significant reduction in the severity of symptoms that goes beyond the placebo effect.
The Implications
This should not be immediately heralded as a cure for IBS. There are limitations to the study. While the patients were ignorant of which group they were in, the acupuncturists were not, which could produce bias. Even the patients might guess which group they were in due to sensations during the procedure. At present, the follow-up time is too short to know the long-term implications.
However, it does mean that acupuncture is an option for IBS patients, particularly those not responding to conventional treatments. It also suggests that acupuncture could be an important part of a holistic approach to IBS that includes dietary modifications, psychological support, and medicine as well as acupuncture.