Department of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Dec 2;11:124. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-124.
Moxibustion is an ancient traditional medicine using burning mugworts to stimulate acupuncture points. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of moxibustion for the treatment of constipation using a randomized, sham-controlled, participant-blinded, pilot trial.
Twenty-six participants (identified with either qi (vital energy) deficiency or qi excess syndrome) were randomly divided into either a moxibustion or sham group. Participants were treated with real or sham moxibustion at 4 acupuncture points, ST23 and ST27, bilaterally, 3 times per week for four weeks. The primary outcome was the frequency of defecations; secondary outcomes were the Bristol stool form scale (BSS) and the constipation assessment scale (CAS).
Of the 26 participants that were randomized, 24 completed the study. Defecation frequency, BSS, and CAS showed no difference between the moxibustion and sham groups. The differences were -0.25 (95% CI: -2.08, 1.58, p = 0.78), -1.22 (95% CI: -2.7, 0.26, p = 0.1), 0.91 (95% CI: -1.46, 3.28, p = 0.44) in defecation frequency, BSS, CAS, respectively. The defecation frequency increased from an average of 3.3 to 4.6 times per week in the moxibustion group (1.5[-0.5, 2], p = 0.06) and from 2.7 to 3.7 stools per week in the sham group (1[-1, 2], p = 0.15) after four weeks of treatment. The difference between participants with a deficiency or an excess syndrome, determined based on assessment of sweat, facial features, pain, body energy, and pulse type, was significant in only defecation frequency. The difference was 3.3 (95% CI: 0.41, 6.19, p = 0.03).
Moxibustion treatment appears safe, but showed no positive effect on constipation. The effectiveness of moxibustion treatment may depend on the syndrome pattern, and further long-term studies with a larger number of subjects are warranted.
Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0000168.
艾灸是一种古老的传统医学，使用燃烧的艾蒿来刺激穴位。本研究旨在通过随机、假对照、参与者盲法、初步试验来探究艾灸治疗便秘的安全性和有效性。
26 名参与者（被确定为气（元气）虚或气盛综合征）被随机分为艾灸组或假艾灸组。参与者每周接受 3 次，共 4 周，在双侧 ST23 和 ST27 穴位上接受真实或假艾灸治疗。主要结局是排便频率；次要结局是布里斯托大便形状量表（BSS）和便秘评估量表（CAS）。
在随机分组的 26 名参与者中，有 24 名完成了研究。艾灸组和假艾灸组之间的排便频率、BSS 和 CAS 无差异。差异分别为 -0.25（95%CI：-2.08，1.58，p=0.78）、-1.22（95%CI：-2.7，0.26，p=0.1）和 0.91（95%CI：-1.46，3.28，p=0.44）。在艾灸组中，排便频率从每周平均 3.3 次增加到 4.6 次（1.5[-0.5，2]，p=0.06），在假艾灸组中，排便频率从每周 2.7 次增加到 3.7 次（1[-1，2]，p=0.15）。经过四周的治疗后。根据汗、面部特征、疼痛、身体能量和脉象的评估，虚证或实证参与者之间的差异仅在排便频率上具有统计学意义。差异为 3.3（95%CI：0.41，6.19，p=0.03）。
艾灸治疗似乎安全，但对便秘没有积极作用。艾灸治疗的有效性可能取决于证候模式，需要进一步进行长期的、有更多受试者的研究。
临床研究信息服务，KCT0000168。
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