Randomised controlled trial comparing acupuncture with placebo acupuncture for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Due to unsatisfactory results from conventional treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities are increasingly popular treatment alternatives. AIM: The study aims to compare the differences in the therapeutic effect on IBS using ear acupuncture and placebo ear acupuncture. METHODS: Forty cases were divided randomly into an acupuncture group and a placebo sham ear acupuncture group, 20 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at the anxiety and gut area and in the placebo group in the allergy areas. The patients, 8 males and 32 females, were treated 2 times a week, for 3 weeks; age range 17–55 years. To be enrolled into the study, IBS was diagnosed by a gastroenterologist. RESULTS: As compared with those before treatment, the time of abdominal pain, the frequency of abdominal pain, the morbidity of abnormal stool appearance and the score of bloating or abdominal pain on bowel movement were all reduced after treatment in both groups. The results of those in the ear acupuncture group were much more significant than those in the placebo group. The total effective rate in the acupuncture group was 72.0% (17/20), which was superior to that of 43.5% (19/20) in the placebo group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ear acupuncture may relieve the clinical symptoms of IBS and its efficacy is superior to that of placebo.