Clinical observation of electroacupuncture in the treatment of functional constipation of spleen deficiency and qi weakness type

OBJECTIVE: To observe and compare the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture and Western medicine in the treatment of chronic functional constipation of spleen deficiency and qi weakness type. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with functional constipation of spleen deficiency and qi weakness type who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (22 cases) and a Western medicine group (15 cases). The electroacupuncture group received treatment at bilateral Tianshu, Qihai, Shangjuxu and Sanyinjiao, 3-4 times a week, with 4 weeks as one course; the Western medicine group took lactulose oral solution (Lactulose), 15-30 ml each time, twice a day, with 4 weeks as one course. The scores of the clinical rating scale for constipation, the time to first spontaneous defecation and the number of spontaneous defecations per week were observed in both groups before treatment and after one course of treatment. RESULTS: The time to first spontaneous defecation was shorter in the Western medicine group than in the electroacupuncture group, but without significant difference (p>0.05); after 4 weeks, the number of spontaneous defecations per week in the electroacupuncture group was significantly higher than in the Western medicine group (p<0.01); the electroacupuncture group was superior to the Western medicine group in straining, sensation of incomplete evacuation, defecation time and total constipation scale score; the clinical cure rate and total effective rate were both better than those of the Western medicine group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical observation suggests that the short-term efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of functional constipation of spleen deficiency and qi weakness type is definite, and the effect is better than oral Western medicine lactulose.