Clinical study of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome) of the liver depression and spleen deficiency type

OBJECTIVE: On the basis of acupuncture therapy, this study compared the method of suppressing the liver and supporting the spleen with the Chinese patent medicine Jiawei Xiaoyao Pill, to observe the differences in efficacy between the two methods for chronic diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome) of the liver depression and spleen deficiency type, to analyze them and make a scientific and objective judgment, so as to provide clinical practice with an effective acupuncture method for treating chronic diarrhea of the liver depression and spleen deficiency type. METHODS: Sixty patients meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, with 30 cases each. The treatment group received acupuncture therapy once a day, and the control group took the Chinese patent medicine Jiawei Xiaoyao Pill orally twice a day; 10 days constituted one course of treatment. After two courses, the effects before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: In the treatment group (30 cases), the total effective rate was 96.7%; in the control group (30 cases), the total effective rate was 56.7%. The total effective rate of the treatment group was superior to that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Both the liver-suppressing, spleen-supporting and antidiarrheal acupuncture method of the treatment group and oral Jiawei Xiaoyao Pill were effective for chronic diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome) of the liver depression and spleen deficiency type, with no adverse reactions. However, the therapeutic effect of the liver-suppressing, spleen-supporting and antidiarrheal acupuncture method was more satisfactory, making it a better treatment than oral Chinese patent medicine.