Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Constipation: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic functional constipation. Randomized controlled trials were searched in several databases. The primary outcome was a change in the number of weekly spontaneous bowel movements. The secondary outcomes included colonic transit activity, effective rate, Cleveland Clinic Score, and health-related quality of life score. Meta-analysis was done by using RevMan 5.1. After strict screening, 15 RCTs were included, containing 1256 participants. All of them were conducted in China and published in Chinese journals. Meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture for chronic functional constipation was probably as effective as conventional medical therapy in the change of bowel movements. For the colonic transit activity, acupuncture might be the same as conventional medical therapy and could be better than sham acupuncture. For the Cleveland Clinic Score, acupuncture was unlikely inferior to conventional medical therapy and the deep acupuncture was better than normal depth acupuncture in abdominal region. No obvious adverse event was associated with acupuncture for constipation. In conclusion, acupuncture for chronic functional constipation is safe and may improve weekly spontaneous bowel movements, quality of life, and relevant symptoms. However, the evidence was limited by the small sample size and the methodological quality.

Parton Densities With the Quark Linear Potential in the Statistical Approach

“…(10) and solving the set of Eqs. (11)(12)(13)(14) simultaneously, the four parameters of statistical parton model, T, V, µ u and µ d can be computed at desired energy scales which can be related to the S G values at some available energy scales, quoted in [17,18]. In Ref.…”

“…Then by putting the final results in the sum rules, given by Eqs. (11,12) and Eq. (14), we can obtain the unknown parameters µ u , µ d and T by solving simultaneously the related set of equations.…”

Acupuncture for patients with chronic functional constipation: A randomized controlled trial

“…However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of acupuncture by comparing it to dietary fiber, laxatives, or prokinetic agents . A recent systematic reviews concluded that acupuncture for CFC was safe and might be as effective as conventional medical therapy in improving weekly spontaneous bowel movements, quality of life, and relevant symptoms . However, the low quality of the included trials in the review made the results inconclusive.…”

Effects of Noninvasive Skin Stimulation with Microcones on Constipation: A Double-Blinded Controlled Study

“…3 A systematic review on acupuncture in 1256 patients with chronic constipation reported that acupuncture increased the frequency of spontaneous bowel movements each week and was as effective as conventional drug therapy. 5 Another study of 1075 patients with refractory constipation showed that electroacupuncture, in which an electric current is applied to acupuncture needles inserted into the body, was effective for treatment. 6 The researchers noted that in previous studies on the effects of acupuncture, relatively intense stimulation was applied by inserting acupuncture needles (filiform needles) deep into the tissue up to the muscles.…”