Acupuncture for Digestive Health & Bowel Diseases.
There are many types, patterns and causes of gastrointestinal symptoms. Common symptoms include stomach ulcers and acid reflux, bloating, hernias, diarrhoea and constipation as well as food intolerances.
Abdominal pain is one of the most frequent reasons for visiting a doctor or emergency department. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) causes abdominal pain, bloating and alternating constipation and diarrhoea. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases which cause symptoms such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Regular colonoscopy screening from the age of 50 years is the best way to detect and prevent bowel cancer.
What Does The Research Say?
The following insights are obtained from systematic reviews and analysis of clinical trials investigating the efficacy of Chinese medicine and acupuncture for digestive health & bowel diseases.
2023 Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Fruits, especially kiwifruits, and rye bread can enhance bowel movements and help manage chronic constipation better than conventional dietary methods.
An exhaustive analysis was conducted incorporating a multitude of studies, including randomized controlled trials and uncontrolled trials, identified through electronic databases till 12th July 2023. The effect of various foods, drinks, and diets on characteristics such as stool output, gut transit time, symptoms, quality of life, adverse events, and compliance in adults with chronic constipation was inspected. The study also examined the response to different treatments and included a variety of foods such as kiwifruit, high-mineral water, prunes, rye bread, mango, fig, cereal, oat bran, yoghurt, water supplementation, prune juice, and high-fibre or no-fibre diets.
The synthesized data revealed that the consumption of fruits, particularly kiwifruits, and rye bread led to a higher stool frequency when compared to standard treatments like psyllium or white bread. High-mineral water also proved more effective regarding response to treatment than low-mineral water. On the other hand, no distinctive difference was identified for prunes when set against psyllium as a treatment option. Overall, the study insightfully suggests dietary modifications as a means to manage chronic constipation, emphasizing the potential of fruits such as kiwifruits and rye bread.
Systematic review and metaâ€analysis: Foods, drinks and diets and their effect on chronic constipation in adults Van Der Schoot A, Katsirma Z, Whelan K, Dimidi E
2023 BMJ Open Gastroenterology
Bicarbonate-rich mineral water “Staatl. Fachingen STILL†significantly reduces heartburn more effectively than placebo, improving patients’ quality of life.
The STOMACH STILL trial, a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, assessed the effectiveness of Staatl. Fachingen STILL mineral water in relieving heartburn. Adult patients with frequent heartburn episodes for at least six months, but without severe reflux oesophagitis, were recruited. They consumed 1.5 liters per day of either the mineral water (verum) or placebo for six weeks. Primary endpoint was a reduction of at least five points in the Reflux Disease Questionnaire score for heartburn. Secondary endpoints included overall symptom reduction, health-related quality of life measures (QOLRAD), rescue medication intake, and safety/tolerability.
Of the 148 patients randomized, 143 completed the trial. The responder rate was significantly higher in the mineral water group (84.72%) compared to the placebo group (63.51%). Significant improvements were observed in the ‘heartburn’ dimension and overall Reflux Disease Questionnaire scores for the mineral water group. Additionally, three out of five Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia domains showed improvement: ‘food/drink problems,’ ‘emotional distress,’ and ‘vitality.’ The verum group also reported a decrease in rescue medication use. Only three patients experienced treatment-related adverse events. The study concluded that Staatl. Fachingen STILL mineral water is superior to placebo in relieving heartburn and enhancing health-related quality of life.
Heartburn relief with bicarbonate-rich mineral water: results of the randomised, placebo-controlled phase-III trial STOMACH STILL Labenz J, Anschütz M, Walstab J, Wedemeyer RS, Wolters H, Schug B
2023 Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Changes in gut microbiome associated with a low-fat, vegan diet and cooked soybeans may reduce the frequency and severity of postmenopausal hot flashes.
In this study, 84 postmenopausal women experiencing two or more moderate-to-severe hot flashes daily were randomly assigned to a low-fat, vegan diet with daily cooked soybeans or allowed to maintain their usual diet. Over a 12-week period, the frequency and severity of hot flashes were tracked using a mobile application. In 11 women from the group, gut microbiome was analyzed at the start and after 12 weeks of the dietary intervention, using deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
The women who underwent gut microbiome testing experienced a substantial decrease in total hot flashes during the dietary intervention, and severe hot flashes disappeared entirely in this group. Alpha and beta diversity within the microbiome showed no significant difference in the intervention group between baseline and the end of the 12 weeks. Interestingly, adjustments in the relative abundance of certain bacterial strains, notably Porphyromonas and Prevotella corporis, were linked with the reduction in severe day hot flashes, while changes in the relative abundance of Clostridium asparagiforme were associated with a reduction in total severe hot flashes and severe night hot flashes.
A dietary intervention for postmenopausal hot flashes: A potential role of gut microbiome. An exploratory analysis Kahleova H, Holtz DN, Strom N, La Reau A, Kolipaka S, Schmidt N, Hata E, Znayenko-Miller T, Holubkov R, Barnard ND
2022 Medicine
Acupuncture covering the depth ranges for BL18, BL20, and BL22 and their targeting of various tissues potentially alleviates sympathetic nerve issues and ischemia with assistance of the diaphragm.
Review analyzed 115 articles on needling depth and angle for back-shu acupuncture points in GI diseases. Key findings include the depth range for BL18, BL20, and BL22 points, their targeting of muscles, nerves, and diaphragmatic tissues, and the potential for acupuncture to alleviate sympathetic nerve overexcitability and ischemia while emphasizing the diaphragm's role in digestive function.
Anatomical structures and needling method of the back-shu points BL18, BL20, and BL22 related to gastrointestinal organs: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of acupoints and exploratory mechanism analysis Cho Y, Han Y, Kim Y, Han S, Oh K, Chae H, Hongmin C, Ryu M
2022 The American Journal of Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture shows promising results in managing autoimmune diseases by potentially regulating immune responses.
The methodology of the study involved a comprehensive review of how acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine, may be employed as a treatment method for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The research was based on existing knowledge and accumulating data, investigating the role of acupuncture in regulating immune responses during these conditions.
The discussion of the results revealed that acupuncture showed promise in managing these diseases. It was noted that the positive outcomes observed might be linked to the potential of acupuncture to regulate abnormal immune responses which are characteristic of autoimmune diseases. Despite the fact that the precise mechanism through which this achieved is not fully understood, the findings indicate a promising alternative method of managing autoimmune conditions.
Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Acupuncture in Autoimmune Diseases Jing Wang, Fangyi Zhu, Wei Huang, Zhengyi Chen, Ping Zhao, Yanting Lei, Yumei Liu, Xijun Liu, Bo Sun, Hulun Li
2022 Frontiers in Pharmacology
Xiao Yao San can improve symptoms and reduce recurrence rates in patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction.
The paper's methodology involved a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found in seven databases, up until November 22, 2021. The trials, which totaled 48 all together, were included to determine the efficacy of Xiao-Yao-San in treating disorders of gut-brain interaction (previously known as functional gastrointestinal disorders). A range of measures, including therapeutic efficacy, symptom score, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale score, Self-Rating Depression Scale score, and the recurrence rate, were analysed using both random-effects and fixed-effects models, as well as trial sequential analysis.
In terms of results, Xiao-Yao-San showed a marked improvement in the effective rate of managing disorders of gut-brain interaction compared to western drugs, both when used alone and in combination with western medicine. The paper also found the treatment notably reduced symptom scores, anxiety scores, and depression scores for patients with the disorder. Further, instances of recurrence were also reduced. Overall, Xiao-Yao-San was well tolerated and no serious adverse events were reported in any of the trials included in this analysis.
Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine Xiao Yao San in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Liu Q, Shi Z, Zhang T, Jiang T, Luo X, Su X, Yang Y and Wei W
2022 Frontiers in Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine therapies, like acupuncture and moxibustion, effectively alleviate irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea symptoms, and reduce recurrence rates.
Adhering to the guidelines for systematic reviews, multiple databases including PubMed and Cochrane Library, and several Chinese databases were thoroughly searched. The focus was randomized controlled trials that compared traditional Chinese external therapies with western medicine for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea up until the end of 2021. Two authors were independently responsible for screening, data extraction and study assessment. Study quality assessment involved both the Jadad scale and Cochrane Collaborative's risk of bias tool. Meta-analysis was performed on the data collated using Review Manager software.
The gathered data revealed that of the twenty-one studies examined, including a total of 1,862 subjects, acupuncture and moxibustion were the most prevalent external therapies. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that in comparison to the control group, the experimental group demonstrated marked improvement. Notably, the experimental group had superior clinical effectiveness rates, better clinical cure rates, and reduced recurrence. Additionally, there was significant improvement in irritable bowel syndrome related quality of life within the experimental group. Despite these promising results, the publication bias of the included studies was noted as a potential limitation.
External therapy of traditional Chinese medicine for treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis Wei X, Wen Y, Wei Y, Liang X, Ma X, Zhang B, Tang X
2022 Frontiers in Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine therapies, like acupuncture and moxibustion, effectively alleviate irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea symptoms, and reduce recurrence rates.
Adhering to the guidelines for systematic reviews, multiple databases including PubMed and Cochrane Library, and several Chinese databases were thoroughly searched. The focus was randomized controlled trials that compared traditional Chinese external therapies with western medicine for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea up until the end of 2021. Two authors were independently responsible for screening, data extraction and study assessment. Study quality assessment involved both the Jadad scale and Cochrane Collaborative's risk of bias tool. Meta-analysis was performed on the data collated using Review Manager software.
The gathered data revealed that of the twenty-one studies examined, including a total of 1,862 subjects, acupuncture and moxibustion were the most prevalent external therapies. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that in comparison to the control group, the experimental group demonstrated marked improvement. Notably, the experimental group had superior clinical effectiveness rates, better clinical cure rates, and reduced recurrence. Additionally, there was significant improvement in irritable bowel syndrome related quality of life within the experimental group. Despite these promising results, the publication bias of the included studies was noted as a potential limitation.
External therapy of traditional Chinese medicine for treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis Wei X, Wen Y, Wei Y, Liang X, Ma X, Zhang B, Tang X
2022 Frontiers in Nutrition
Goji berry supplementation can potentially improve gut microbiota and prevent liver injury caused by acute alcohol consumption.
In this study, the effects of Goji berry supplementation on liver injury induced by acute alcohol intake were examined. Over a 14-day period, the changes in liver enzyme levels, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and lipopolysaccharide content in the liver tissue were observed. In addition, the integrity of the epithelial barrier and levels of butyric acid in the cecum were also evaluated. The direct relationship between gut microbiota modifications and liver protective effects was mainly established via antibiotic treatments and fecal microbiota transplantation experiments.
The results revealed that Goji supplementation helped maintain liver health by lowering liver injury indicators, maintaining the epithelial barrier's integrity, and increasing the butyric acid levels in the cecum content. The same types of effects were observed for Goji and fecal microbiota transplantation treatments. These maneuvers increased the glutathione levels in the liver and selectively promoted the growth of certain gut bacteria. The metabolite analysis showed that Goji berries and its trained microbiota were able to regulate specific metabolic compounds, shedding light on the interplay between Goji, gut microbiota, and liver homeostasis.
Dietary Goji Shapes the Gut Microbiota to Prevent the Liver Injury Induced by Acute Alcohol Intake Guo L, Guan Q, Duan W, Ren Y, Zhang XJ, Xu HY, Shi JS, Wang FZ, Lu R, Zhang HL, Xu ZH, Li H, Geng Y
2022 Iranian Journal of Public Health
The application of curcumin and turmeric, due to their anti-inflammatory effects, can alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
The research was conducted by conducting a systematic review of all available evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of curcumin and turmeric for relief from irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Database searches were undertaken across various reputable sources, namely Web of Science, Pub-Med, Scopus, Ovid, Embase, and Google Scholar. The terms used for this search included 'curcumin', 'turmeric', and 'IBS'. The timeline for these studies spanned from 1990 to February 2021. The focus was particularly placed on clinical trials, from which nine relevant articles were gathered for data analysis.
The results from the gathered literature showed that curcumin and turmeric, used alone or combined with other medications, could positively impact the severity of irritable bowel syndrome. This was particularly apparent with symptoms such as abdominal pain, leading to an overall improvement in life quality for people dealing with irritable bowel syndrome. This improvement is attributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin and turmeric.
Turmeric for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Population-Based Evidence Jafarzadeh E, Shoeibi S, Bahramvand Y, Nasrollahi E, Maghsoudi AS, Yazdi F, KarkonShayan S, Hassani S
2021 Chinese Medicine
A variety of Chinese herbal medicines have been reported to effectively prevent or treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulation of the gut microbiota and the gut-liver axis.
The key roles of CHMs in the regulation of gut microbiota and the gut-liver axis along with their mechanisms (such as modulating intestinal permeability, reducing the inflammatory response, protecting liver cells, improving lipid metabolism, and modulating nuclear receptors), were well summarized. All the knowledge and information presented here will be very helpful for researchers to better understand the applications and mechanisms of CHMs for treatment of NAFLD.
Herbal therapy for ameliorating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via rebuilding the intestinal microecology Yang XF, Lu M, You L, Gen H, Yuan L, Tian T, Li CY, Xu K, Hou J, Lei M
2021 Frontiers in Public Health
Traditional Chinese medicine infant massage can reduce the symptoms of constipation in children suffering from functional constipation.
A review of 23 studies involving 2,005 patients found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) infant massage was more effective than drug therapy alone for treating infant functional constipation. The massage showed significant improvements in overall effectiveness, frequency of bowel movements, and constipation symptoms. However, there was no significant difference between the massage and drug therapy when it came to stool form and difficulty of defecation. The variations in results may be due to factors like patient conditions, different massage techniques, the effectiveness of drugs used in the control group, and variations in criteria for measuring effectiveness. The study did not detect any publication bias.
Clinical Efficacy of Infantile Massage in the Treatment of Infant Functional Constipation: A Meta-Analysis Zhi Liu, Li Gang, Ma Yunwei, Ling Lin
2021 Annals of Palliative Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine shows promise in preventing cholelithiasis recurrence post lithotripsy
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may enhance prognosis for cholelithiasis patients following gallbladder-preserving lithotripsy. This systematic review analyzed TCM's efficacy and safety in this context, along with functional pathway enrichment analysis of TCM target genes. Nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 926 participants were included. Meta-analysis indicated TCM reduced cholelithiasis recurrence, complications, gallbladder wall thickness, and contraction degree. No significant adverse reactions were noted. The study suggested that TCM, particularly the flavonoid glycoside naringin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, could be beneficial post-gallbladder-preserving lithotripsy, but further high-quality RCTs are needed for a conclusive assessment.
Systematic review and pathway enrichment analysis of Chinese medicine in preventing recurrence and improving prognosis of cholelithiasis after gallbladder-preserving lithotripsy Li B, Lin Y, Nie B, Zhao G, Zhang X, Zhu M, Hu J, Huang P, Feng S, Qiu R, Tian G, Zhang S, Shang H
2021 Nutrients
Fresh Hass avocados have been found to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, assist weight loss, improve cognitive function, and promote colonic microbiota health.
The methodology used in this comprehensive review entailed conducting 19 clinical trials, five observational studies, and examination of several biological mechanisms. These focused on understanding and identifying the primary health effects of Hass avocados in different population groups such as healthy overweight or obese adults, older normal-weight adults, and overweight or obese women. The effects were thoroughly measured in terms of cardiovascular health, body weight, cognitive function, and colonic microbiota health.
The primary health effects of Hass avocados were then linked to its unique nutritional properties - the unsaturated to saturated fat ratio, the presence of multifunctional prebiotic and viscous fiber, its low energy density, and the increase in carotenoid absorption facilitated by its oleic acid and water emulsion, particularly when combined with low-fat fruits and vegetables.
The results indicated significant positive effects from consuming Hass avocados, especially when incorporated into a healthy dietary plan like the Mediterranean diet. Consumption of avocados was found to lead to reduced cardiovascular disease risk in healthy overweight or obese adults, primarily by undesirable cholesterol profiles and promoting vascular health. For overweight or obese women, it helped in weight reduction and lessened visceral fat tissue. The consumption of avocados improved cognitive function in both older normal-weight adults and young to middle age overweight adults, particularly their executive function. It was also found to enhance colonic microbiota health in overweight or obese individuals by fostering healthier microflora and fecal metabolites.
A Comprehensive Review of Hass Avocado Clinical Trials, Observational Studies, and Biological Mechanisms Dreher ML, Cheng FW, Ford NA
2021 Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Acupuncture is shown to be a beneficial supplementary treatment for chronic abdominal pain, improving patients' quality of life and cutting healthcare costs.
The research explores the utilization of acupuncture to treat chronic abdominal pain, a condition widespread and chiefly affected by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This type of pain is defined by three episodes of severe abdominal pain over a span of three months. While its causes are still being looked into, it is believed to be an outcome of the chronicity of acute pain or chronic pain syndromes. A wide array of treatments for these conditions exist but often fall short of fully controlling the symptoms. Acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine based on the concept of rebalancing the patient's Qi, or Ying/Yang balance, is being investigated as a complementary method.
In terms of results, acupuncture has proven effective in providing additional alleviation of symptoms, leading to improved quality of life and reduced disability for patients affected by chronic abdominal pain. While it's not a curative solution, it aids in minimizing symptoms and enhancing overall life quality. It is also considered a safe and inexpensive alternative that may result in significant healthcare savings. Notably, it's not recommended for all patients; its benefits seem to be more pronounced in a select group.
Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Pain Berger AA, Liu Y, Jin K, Kaneb A, Welschmeyer A, Cornett EM, Kaye AD, Imani F, Khademi SH, Varrassi G, Viswanath O, Urits I
2021 Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Acupuncture is shown to be a beneficial supplementary treatment for chronic abdominal pain, improving patients' quality of life and cutting healthcare costs.
The research explores the utilization of acupuncture to treat chronic abdominal pain, a condition widespread and chiefly affected by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This type of pain is defined by three episodes of severe abdominal pain over a span of three months. While its causes are still being looked into, it is believed to be an outcome of the chronicity of acute pain or chronic pain syndromes. A wide array of treatments for these conditions exist but often fall short of fully controlling the symptoms. Acupuncture, a form of traditional Chinese medicine based on the concept of rebalancing the patient's Qi, or Ying/Yang balance, is being investigated as a complementary method.
In terms of results, acupuncture has proven effective in providing additional alleviation of symptoms, leading to improved quality of life and reduced disability for patients affected by chronic abdominal pain. While it's not a curative solution, it aids in minimizing symptoms and enhancing overall life quality. It is also considered a safe and inexpensive alternative that may result in significant healthcare savings. Notably, it's not recommended for all patients; its benefits seem to be more pronounced in a select group.
Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Pain Berger AA, Liu Y, Jin K, Kaneb A, Welschmeyer A, Cornett EM, Kaye AD, Imani F, Khademi SH, Varrassi G, Viswanath O, Urits I
2021 Food Chemistry
Pu-erh tea, with its complex components, interacts greatly with gut microbiomes and holds significant potential for healthcare applications.
Pu-erh tea undergoes a post-fermentation process involving various microorganisms, leading to highly complex components. This tea has its potential benefit due to its rich interactions with the gut microbiomes; the structure and the homeostasis of which are deeply connected to human wellness and progress of various diseases. This study provides a systemic review of the current findings pertaining to the bioactive components of Pu-erh tea and their interactions with gut microbiomes.
For the discussion of results, the beneficial effects of Pu-erh tea on gut microbiomes may establish its role in healthcare. These benefits are due to the tea's bioactive components' impacts on the structure of the gut microbiomes, and subsequent health improvements. Additionally, the establishment of "components-function-indicators" clues can propel the standardisation of the tea's fermentation process and development of functional tea-related products.
Effects of bioactive components of Pu-erh tea on gut microbiomes and health: A review Liu JY, He D, Xing YF, Zeng W, Ren K, Zhang C, Lu Y, Yang S, Ou SJ, Wang Y, Xing XH
2021 Future Pharmacology
Eating kiwifruits improves bowel movements and decreases stool consistency, also providing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits to the gut barrier.
The review included nine clinical studies investigating the effect of kiwifruit consumption on intestinal function and constipation. The studies, focusing on young or middle-aged adults predominantly, required participants to consume between two to four kiwifruits daily for durations varying from three days to four weeks. The impact on elderly individuals was less explored.
The review indicates that kiwifruits can enhance bowel movements and reduce stool consistency in both healthy individuals and those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome-induced constipation. The fiber and water content of kiwifruits is thought to contribute to these results. Furthermore, consumption of kiwifruit showed extra intestinal health advantages, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the gut barrier. However, when focusing on patients with constipation, the fruit's consumption correlated with a temporary increase in defecation frequency but inconsistently impacted stool consistency. High-quality methodical studies and meta-analysis substantiated these findings.
Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) Dietary Consumption for Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Antonelli M, Donelli D
2020 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Current evidence suggests that acupuncture is an efficient and safe treatment for functional constipation.
This systematic review suggests that acupuncture for FC is safe and effective, especially in terms of increased stool frequency and improved constipation symptoms, stool formation, and quality of life, but the relationship between acupuncture and drugs is not clear. In the future, high-quality RCTs are still needed to provide evidence to support these conclusions and examine the alternative or complementary relationship between acupuncture and existing drugs for the treatment of FC.
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Management of Functional Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Wang, Lu; Xu, Mingmin; Zheng, Qianhua; Zhang, Wei; Li, Ying.
2020 World Journal of Gastroenterology
Positive effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture were observed in regulating gastric motility, gastric accommodation, mental status, gastrointestinal hormones, and central and autonomic functions while improving dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life.
In this systematic review, we pooled randomized controlled trials with mechanistic investigations of acupuncture or electroacupuncture in improving dyspeptic symptoms, and illustrated the existing results that may provide potential explanations for the therapeutic effects. The findings of included studies in this review suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture can improve gastric motility and accommodation, regulate gastrointestinal hormones and mental status, and alter certain central and autonomic functions in patients with functional dyspepsia. However, due to limitations in the included articles, high-quality studies with well-planned designs and multiregional investigations are necessary to provide more convincing and credible evidence.
Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review Guo Y, Wei W, Chen JD
2020 World Journal of Gastroenterology
Positive effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture were observed in regulating gastric motility, gastric accommodation, mental status, gastrointestinal hormones, and central and autonomic functions while improving dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life.
In this systematic review, we pooled randomized controlled trials with mechanistic investigations of acupuncture or electroacupuncture in improving dyspeptic symptoms, and illustrated the existing results that may provide potential explanations for the therapeutic effects. The findings of included studies in this review suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture can improve gastric motility and accommodation, regulate gastrointestinal hormones and mental status, and alter certain central and autonomic functions in patients with functional dyspepsia. However, due to limitations in the included articles, high-quality studies with well-planned designs and multiregional investigations are necessary to provide more convincing and credible evidence.
Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review Guo Y, Wei W, Chen JD
2020 PLOS One
Ban Xia Xie Xin decoction has shown superior effectiveness and safety for treating chronic atrophic gastritis than patent medicine plus western medicine.
In an analysis of the clinical efficacy and safety of Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD) for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) treatment, seven electronic databases, including Ovid, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and more, were used. The criteria for inclusion in the study were up until September 21, 2020. A Jadad scale coupled with Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool evaluated methodological quality.
Out of the 1985 patients identified for analysis across 26 randomized controlled trials, it was found that BXD treatment provided more effective and safe results than Chinese patent medicine in conjunction with western medicine. Additionally, BXD was seen to improve symptom scores for stomach distending pain and belching. It was also observed that BXD effectively inhibited Helicobacter Pylori, improved HP-related inflammation, and alleviated the degree of glandular atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia of gastric mucosa. Despite the promising results, limitations were identified in relation to methodological quality and sample size across the studies.
Efficacy of Banxia Xiexin decoction for chronic atrophic gastritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis Cao Y, Zheng Y, Niu J, Zhu C, Yang D, Rong F, et al.
2020 PLOS One
Ban Xia Xie Xin decoction has shown superior effectiveness and safety for treating chronic atrophic gastritis than patent medicine plus western medicine.
In an analysis of the clinical efficacy and safety of Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD) for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) treatment, seven electronic databases, including Ovid, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and more, were used. The criteria for inclusion in the study were up until September 21, 2020. A Jadad scale coupled with Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool evaluated methodological quality.
Out of the 1985 patients identified for analysis across 26 randomized controlled trials, it was found that BXD treatment provided more effective and safe results than Chinese patent medicine in conjunction with western medicine. Additionally, BXD was seen to improve symptom scores for stomach distending pain and belching. It was also observed that BXD effectively inhibited Helicobacter Pylori, improved HP-related inflammation, and alleviated the degree of glandular atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia of gastric mucosa. Despite the promising results, limitations were identified in relation to methodological quality and sample size across the studies.
Efficacy of Banxia Xiexin decoction for chronic atrophic gastritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis Cao Y, Zheng Y, Niu J, Zhu C, Yang D, Rong F, et al.
2020 Frontiers in Pharmacology
Chinese medicine herb Bai Zhu might combat chronic gastritis by influencing inflammatory response, amino acid synthesis and energy metabolism.
Methodology: Network pharmacology was employed to study the active ingredients, drug targets, and critical pathways of AMK in treating chronic gastritis. Initially, four databases were scoured to single out 77 candidate ingredients of AMK, reducing that to 27 active ingredients identified for CG treatment. Furthermore, 25 overlapping gene symbols linked to CG and drugs were procured from GeneCards and OMIM databases. The construction of a protein-protein interaction network and TCM comprehensive network followed this, resulting in 528 Gene Ontology terms and 26 pathways obtained through GO pathways and KEGG pathways enrichment analyses.
Results: The investigation focused on the interleukin-17 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications as crucial points and leading pathways for treating chronic gastritis. The study suggests that AMK potentially impacts the inflammatory response, amino acid synthesis, and energy metabolism. These influential active ingredients and targets have been experimentally validated for reliability, offering new insights into the systematic exploration of the traditional Chinese medicine mechanism of action.
Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Investigate the Pharmacologic Mechanisms of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. for the Treatment of Chronic Gastritis Yang S, Zhang J, Yan Y, Yang M, Li C, Li J, Zhong L, Gong Q, Yu H
2020 Journal of Water and Health
Mineral water increases the diversity of gut microbiota by aiding the growth of Bacteroidetes taxa.
The researchers carried out the study on BALB/c mice, focusing specifically on the bacterial community in their feces and how it responds to different types of drinking water. These types included commercial bottled mineral water, natural water, purified water, and tap water. After culturing the feces in a combination of brain heart infusion broth dissolved in the four water types, they conducted a 16S rRNA gene analysis to study the bacterial composition.
The bacterial composition varied significantly between the four different types of drinking water. Over time, the overall number of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) decreased, with the exception of cultures grown in mineral water under aerobic conditions. Under these conditions, by the fifth day, alpha diversity differences were particularly noticeable when comparing mineral water with the other types. The most unique taxa were found within the mineral water group. Notably, the Bacteroidetes taxa showed the most significant differences, dominating in the mineral water compared to the other types of water. This indicates that using mineral water as a culture medium could lead to a progressive increase in gut microbiota diversity.
The effect of different drinking water in culture medium on feces microbiota diversity Zhou K, Liu W, Chen Z, Yang D, Qiu Z, Feng H, Li C, Jin M, Li J, Xu Q, Shen Z
2020 Nutrients
Ganpu tea, derived from Pu-erh tea and the pericarp of Chachi, enhances antioxidant capacities and modulates gut microbiota beneficially more than Pu-erh tea alone.
A thorough chemical analysis was conducted on hot-water extracts of Ganpu tea using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, which identified a total of 92 constituents. Considering the antioxidant properties of Ganpu tea, an experiment was designed and carried out where rats were fed with Ganpu tea over a long period. The same experiment was done using Pu-erh tea and the pericarp of Chachi separately, allowing for comparisons of antioxidant capacities between them and Ganpu tea.
The results showed that Ganpu tea had a substantial impact on improving the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, both essential antioxidants, more than Pu-erh tea. This indicated a superior antioxidant capacity of Ganpu tea. Further, it significantly increased the abundance of specific gut bacteria, offering a suggestion of the potential benefits of Ganpu tea in human gut microbiota modulation. The results underscore the health benefits of Ganpu tea in enhancing antioxidant activities and promoting beneficial gut microbiota.
Chemical Profile, Antioxidative, and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Properties of Ganpu Tea: A Derivative of Pu-erh Tea Zheng Y, Zeng X, Chen T, Peng W, Su W
2019 Pain Research and Management
Acupuncture could be used as an adjunct in clinical settings to improve efficacy of western medicine for irritable bowel syndrome.
Taken together, for improvement of IBS symptoms and quality of life, no difference was found in acupuncture relative to sham controls studies, while some studies indicated positive results of acupuncture in alleviating IBS symptoms, reflective of a larger potential for treating IBS by true acupuncture. Acupuncture seemed to be superior over western medicine, but the placebo effects couldn’t be ignored for all the studies were conducted in China. Acupuncture might be used as an adjunct to western medicine, herbal medicine and tuina for a better clinical effect. Future high-quality and large-sample studies with adequate stimulation amounts need to be conducted for further testing.
Comparison between the Effects of Acupuncture Relative to Other Controls on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis Zheng H, Chen R, Zhao X, Li G, Liang Y, Zhang H, Chi Z
2019 Pain Research and Management
Acupuncture could be used as an adjunct in clinical settings to improve efficacy of western medicine for irritable bowel syndrome.
Taken together, for improvement of IBS symptoms and quality of life, no difference was found in acupuncture relative to sham controls studies, while some studies indicated positive results of acupuncture in alleviating IBS symptoms, reflective of a larger potential for treating IBS by true acupuncture. Acupuncture seemed to be superior over western medicine, but the placebo effects couldn’t be ignored for all the studies were conducted in China. Acupuncture might be used as an adjunct to western medicine, herbal medicine and tuina for a better clinical effect. Future high-quality and large-sample studies with adequate stimulation amounts need to be conducted for further testing.
Comparison between the Effects of Acupuncture Relative to Other Controls on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis Zheng H, Chen R, Zhao X, Li G, Liang Y, Zhang H, Chi Z
2019 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Chinese herbal compounds can potentially treat cholelithiasis by improving biliary dynamics, protecting liver function, reducing cholesterol, and managing inflammation.
In this research, various commonly used Chinese herbal compounds (CHCs) were assessed for their application in treating cholelithiasis. The investigation centered around understanding the mechanism through which these CHCs work. Critical to this understanding was the analysis of how CHCs influence biliary dynamics, liver functionalities, the levels of cholesterol and bilirubin, as well as the regulation of inflammatory responses.
Following this evaluation, it was discovered that traditional Chinese medicine-based treatments such as CHCs are effective in improving overall bodily functions. This enhancement of bodily function is integral in preventing the recurrence of cholelithiasis. The results point towards the possibility of the effective use of CHCs for patients with cholelithiasis, offering further choices in treatment besides merely surgical or medication options.
Mechanisms Underlying the Prevention and Treatment of Cholelithiasis Using Traditional Chinese Medicine Chen Q, Zhang Y, Li S, Chen S, Lin X, Li C, Asakawa T
2018 Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Acupuncture has been shown to decrease disease activity and inflammation via increase of vagal activity in inflammatory bowel disease.
In this review, we discuss the history, theory, and methodology of acupuncture and review potentially beneficial mechanisms of action of acupuncture for managing inflammatory bowel disease. Acupuncture has been shown to decrease disease activity and inflammation via increase of vagal activity in inflammatory bowel disease. Acupuncture has demonstrated beneficial roles in the regulation of gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier function, visceral hypersensitivity, gut motor dysfunction, depression/anxiety, and pain, all of which are factors that can significantly impact quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Acupuncture in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Gengqing Song, MD, Claudio Fiocchi, MD, Jean-Paul Achkar, MD
2018 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Drinking alkaline-reduced water can improve the quality of life in patients suffering from diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
In this study, twenty-seven patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome were divided into two groups: one group that drank at least 2 liters of alkaline-reduced water a day, and a control group that drank placebo water. The duration of the experiment was eight weeks, during which symptom scores (including quality of life and abdominal pain/discomfort), stool form, and frequency were evaluated via questionnaires both before and after the treatment duration.
The results indicated that an overall greater percentage of patients in the alkaline-reduced water group experienced symptom improvement across the majority of the treatment period compared to the control group. Specifically, the quality of life score in the alkaline-reduced water group significantly improved, a change which was significantly more substantial than the minor improvement seen in the control group. The report about abdominal pain also showed its reduction in both groups, but this change did not significantly differ between the two groups.
Effects of Alkaline-Reduced Drinking Water on Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study Shin DW, Yoon H, Kim HS, Choi YJ, Shin CM, Park YS, Kim N, Lee DH
2017 PLOS One
Chinese herbal medicines showed greater improvement in terms of clinical efficacy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation than cisapride and mosapride.
Eleven eligible studies comprising a total of 906 participants were identified. In the primary outcome, TCM showed significant improvement in overall clinical efficacy compared with cisapride and mosapride. In terms of secondary outcomes, TCM significantly alleviated abdominal pain, defecation frequency, and stool form in the treatment group as compared to the control group. A lower recurrence rate was associated with TCM as compared to cisapride and mosapride. No adverse effects were observed during TCM treatment.
TCM showed greater improvement in terms of clinical efficacy in the treatment of IBS-C than cisapride and mosapride, although it was not possible to draw a definitive conclusion due to the small sample size, high risk, and low quality of the studies. Large multi-center and long-term high-quality randomized control trials are needed.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome Dan-yan Li , Yun-kai Dai , Yun-zhan Zhang, Meng-xin Huang, Ru-liu Li, Jia Ou-yang, Wei-jing Chen, Ling Hu
2017 Journal of Nutritional Science
Gold kiwifruit supplementation increases the abundance of the beneficial gut bacterium Faecalibacterium, which could potentially enhance gut microbiota composition and reduce inflammation.
This research was conducted on two groups of participants: one healthy and the other suffering from Functional Constipation (FC). The groups, one containing 20 individuals (one of whom did not complete the study) and the other 9, were given ACTAZINâ„¢ green (in doses of 2400mg and 600mg) and Livauxâ„¢ (2400 mg) gold kiwifruit supplements, as well as a placebo in the form of isomalt. The study design was a randomized cross-over structure carried out over 4 weeks, with 2 weeks washout periods between each stage. Changes in faecal microbiota composition and metabolism were assessed using 16S RNA gene sequencing and Gas Chromatography (GC), and colonic pH was measured via SmartPill wireless motility capsules.
The baseline measurements showed that the composition of the faecal microbiota differed significantly between the two groups, with certain bacterial taxa such as Bacteroidales markedly more abundant in the healthy group, while others, including Ruminococcaceae, were more prevalent in the FC group. The clearest change affected by the nutrient supplementation was an increase in Faecalibacterium abundance in the FC group following Livauxâ„¢ supplementation, a result observed in nearly all participants in this group. As lower proportions of Faecalibacterium are often linked with gastrointestinal disorders, this increase suggests that the supplements could offer a strategy for ameliorating these conditions.
Consumption of kiwifruit capsules increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance in functionally constipated individuals: a randomised controlled human trial Blatchford P, Stoklosinski H, Eady S, Wallace A, Butts C, Gearry R, Gibson G, Ansell J
2017 Journal of Nutritional Science
Gold kiwifruit supplementation increases the abundance of the beneficial gut bacterium Faecalibacterium, which could potentially enhance gut microbiota composition and reduce inflammation.
This research was conducted on two groups of participants: one healthy and the other suffering from Functional Constipation (FC). The groups, one containing 20 individuals (one of whom did not complete the study) and the other 9, were given ACTAZINâ„¢ green (in doses of 2400mg and 600mg) and Livauxâ„¢ (2400 mg) gold kiwifruit supplements, as well as a placebo in the form of isomalt. The study design was a randomized cross-over structure carried out over 4 weeks, with 2 weeks washout periods between each stage. Changes in faecal microbiota composition and metabolism were assessed using 16S RNA gene sequencing and Gas Chromatography (GC), and colonic pH was measured via SmartPill wireless motility capsules.
The baseline measurements showed that the composition of the faecal microbiota differed significantly between the two groups, with certain bacterial taxa such as Bacteroidales markedly more abundant in the healthy group, while others, including Ruminococcaceae, were more prevalent in the FC group. The clearest change affected by the nutrient supplementation was an increase in Faecalibacterium abundance in the FC group following Livauxâ„¢ supplementation, a result observed in nearly all participants in this group. As lower proportions of Faecalibacterium are often linked with gastrointestinal disorders, this increase suggests that the supplements could offer a strategy for ameliorating these conditions.
Consumption of kiwifruit capsules increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance in functionally constipated individuals: a randomised controlled human trial Blatchford P, Stoklosinski H, Eady S, Wallace A, Butts C, Gearry R, Gibson G, Ansell J
2016 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Acupuncture was superior to either sham acupuncture or medication (including Itopride, Mosapride, and Domperidone) in relieving the major symptoms of functional dyspepsia.
Acupuncture therapy (including manual and electroacupuncture) achieved statistically significant effect in improving the overall symptoms and quality of life of functional dyspepsia patients comparing to sham acupuncture and is superior to medication (prokinetic agents) in ameliorating the major symptoms of functional dyspepsia (postprandial fullness and early satiation).
Acupuncture for Functional Dyspepsia: What Strength Does It Have? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial Bo Pang, Tao Jiang, Yuan-Hao Du, Jing Li, Bo Li, Ya-Cai Hu, Qiu-Han Ca
2015 World Journal of Gastroenterology
Acupuncture has the potential to treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders by regulating GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis.
Although acupuncture has been used as an appropriate adjunctive treatment for GI dysfunction diseases, the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly understood. Currently, there are no systematic and comprehensive review articles that clarify the regulatory effect of acupuncture on GI function. In this review, we discuss the regulation on GI function through acupuncture from the perspectives of GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis. The results of studies in both humans and animals suggest that acupuncture has the potential to treat GI disorders by regulating GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis. In addition, the dual regulatory effects and the intensity-dependent nature of acupuncture on GI motility are discussed.
Acupuncture and regulation of gastrointestinal function Li H, He T, Xu Q, Li Z, Liu Y, Li F, Yang BF, Liu CZ.
2013 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Recent phytochemical studies of jujube fruits have shed some light on their biological effects, such as the anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, immunostimulating, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and gastrointestinal protective activities and inhibition of foam cell formation in macrophages.
The nutritional jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill.) fruit belonging to the Rhamnaceous family grows mostly in Europe, southern and eastern Asia, and Australia, especially the inland region of northern China. Jujube has a long history of usage as a fruit and remedy. The main biologically active components are vitamin C, phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenic acids, and polysaccharides. Recent phytochemical studies of jujube fruits have shed some light on their biological effects, such as the anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, immunostimulating, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and gastrointestinal protective activities and inhibition of foam cell formation in macrophages. A stronger focus on clinical studies and phytochemical definition of jujube fruits will be essential for future research efforts. This review may be useful for predicting other medicinal uses and potential drug or food interactions and may be beneficial for people living where the jujube fruits are prevalent and health care resources are scarce.
The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit: a review of current knowledge of fruit composition and health benefits Gao QH, Wu CS, Wang M.
2013 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy show greater effectiveness than oral sulphasalazine in treating inflammatory bowel diseases.
For the methodology, seven significant databases, both domestic and international, were meticulously searched to accumulate and examine randomized controlled trials (RCTs). These trials specifically compared acupuncture and moxibustion as the main intervention to pharmacotherapy in treating Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In total, 43 RCTs were incorporated and examined, 10 of which distinctly compared oral sulphasalazine with acupuncture or/and moxibustion treatments.
In regards to the results received, the study found that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy displayed superior results when compared with oral sulphasalazine. This conclusion is drawn from the meta-analysis of the 10 trials focusing specifically on these treatments. Even though the systemic review presented several limitations and a definitive conclusion wasn't reached, it still laid groundwork for the potential effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy in managing Inflammatory bowel diseases.
Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Ji, J., Lu, Y., Liu, H., Feng, H., Zhang, F., Wu, L., Cui, Y., & Wu, H.
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Scientific References
Browse our collection of scientific clinical research on acupuncture for digestive health & bowel diseases.
It includes recent and reputable papers published by peer-reviewed journals within the last 10 years.
2023, Oct 31
Systematic review and metaâ€analysis: Foods, drinks and diets and their effect on chronic constipation in adults
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
The study includes 23 identified studies (17 randomized controlled trials [RCTs], 6 uncontrolled trials) involving 1714 participants. Findings indicate that fruits, particularly kiwifruit, and rye bread may improve stool frequency in comparison to psyllium and white bread, respectively. High-mineral water is associated with a higher treatment response compared to low-mineral water. However, the study highlights a scarcity of evidence on the effects of foods, drinks, and diets on constipation, emphasizing the need for further randomized controlled trials to enhance the understanding of their impact.
Van Der Schoot A, Katsirma Z, Whelan K, Dimidi E Full Article
2023, Feb
Heartburn relief with bicarbonate-rich mineral water: results of the randomised, placebo-controlled phase-III trial STOMACH STILL
BMJ Open Gastroenterology
The study concluded that Staatl. Fachingen STILL mineral water showed superiority over placebo in relieving heartburn, as demonstrated by a higher responder rate, improved symptoms, and improved health-related quality of life.
Labenz J, Anschütz M, Walstab J, Wedemeyer RS, Wolters H, Schug B Full Article
2023, Dec
A dietary intervention for postmenopausal hot flashes: A potential role of gut microbiome. An exploratory analysis
Complementary Therapies in Medicine
The study concluded that there were potential associations between changes in vasomotor symptoms and changes in the gut microbiome in response to a diet change.
Kahleova H, Holtz DN, Strom N, La Reau A, Kolipaka S, Schmidt N, Hata E, Znayenko-Miller T, Holubkov R, Barnard ND Full Article
2022, Oct 28
Anatomical structures and needling method of the back-shu points BL18, BL20, and BL22 related to gastrointestinal organs: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of acupoints and exploratory mechanism analysis
Medicine
This study provides guidance on applying needles in terms of anatomical structures to yield therapeutic responses. However, few studies have assessed how to effectively stimulate BSP to trigger digestive effects and their mechanisms. Additional studies on the relationship between BSP and the digestive system are needed to use these acupoints for digestive diseases.
Cho Y, Han Y, Kim Y, Han S, Oh K, Chae H, Hongmin C, Ryu M Full Article
2022, Mar 10
Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Acupuncture in Autoimmune Diseases
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine
The study concludes that acupuncture has shown promising results in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), although its mechanism is not fully understood.
Jing Wang, Fangyi Zhu, Wei Huang, Zhengyi Chen, Ping Zhao, Yanting Lei, Yumei Liu, Xijun Liu, Bo Sun, Hulun Li Full Article
2022, Jan 20
Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicine Xiao Yao San in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: A meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Frontiers in Pharmacology
Our study showed that Xiao-Yao-San (XYS) was effective in the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), including functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional constipation (FC), which could reduce the overall symptom score,Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores of patients and reduce the recurrence rate. Therefore, XYS may be a potential candidate for the treatment of FGIDs.
Liu Q, Shi Z, Zhang T, Jiang T, Luo X, Su X, Yang Y and Wei W Full Article
2022, Aug 09
External therapy of traditional Chinese medicine for treating irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Frontiers in Medicine
External therapy of TCM for IBS-D alleviated abdominal symptoms, improved clinical effectiveness, and reduced recurrence with great safety. However, because of the limitations of publication bias in trials, more rigorous studies with a clinical design are necessary for further verification of the outcomes.
Wei X, Wen Y, Wei Y, Liang X, Ma X, Zhang B, Tang X Full Article
2022, Jul 08
Dietary Goji Shapes the Gut Microbiota to Prevent the Liver Injury Induced by Acute Alcohol Intake
Frontiers in Nutrition
The study concludes that Goji supplementation for 14 days alleviates acute liver injury and maintains gut microbiota stability, with increased levels of butyric acid and glutathione.
Guo L, Guan Q, Duan W, Ren Y, Zhang XJ, Xu HY, Shi JS, Wang FZ, Lu R, Zhang HL, Xu ZH, Li H, Geng Y Full Article
2022, Jun 14
Turmeric for Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Population-Based Evidence
Iranian Journal of Public Health
The study concludes that curcumin and turmeric, either alone or in combination with other medications, can improve the severity of IBS symptoms and the quality of life for individuals with IBS.
Jafarzadeh E, Shoeibi S, Bahramvand Y, Nasrollahi E, Maghsoudi AS, Yazdi F, KarkonShayan S, Hassani S Full Article
2021, Jul 27
Herbal therapy for ameliorating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via rebuilding the intestinal microecology
Chinese Medicine International Society for Chinese Medicine
The key roles of CHMs in the regulation of gut microbiota and the gut-liver axis along with their mechanisms (such as modulating intestinal permeability, reducing the inflammatory response, protecting liver cells, improving lipid metabolism, and modulating nuclear receptors), were well summarized. All the knowledge and information presented here will be very helpful for researchers to better understand the applications and mechanisms of CHMs for treatment of NAFLD.
Yang XF, Lu M, You L, Gen H, Yuan L, Tian T, Li CY, Xu K, Hou J, Lei M Full Article
2021, Jun 11
Clinical Efficacy of Infantile Massage in the Treatment of Infant Functional Constipation: A Meta-Analysis
Frontiers in Public Health
TCM infant massage can increase defecation frequency and reduce the symptoms of constipation in children suffering from functional constipation; in addition, the clinical trial showed beneficial effects.
Zhi Liu, Li Gang, Ma Yunwei, Ling Lin Full Article
2021, Dec
Systematic review and pathway enrichment analysis of Chinese medicine in preventing recurrence and improving prognosis of cholelithiasis after gallbladder-preserving lithotripsy
Annals of Palliative Medicine
Existing evidence suggests that the use of TCM may reduce the recurrence rate after gallbladder-preserving lithotripsy and this effect may be related to the flavonoid glycoside naringin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, but more RCTs with high quality in this area may be needed to have a robust conclusion.
Li B, Lin Y, Nie B, Zhao G, Zhang X, Zhu M, Hu J, Huang P, Feng S, Qiu R, Tian G, Zhang S, Shang H Full Article
2021, Dec 07
A Comprehensive Review of Hass Avocado Clinical Trials, Observational Studies, and Biological Mechanisms
Nutrients
Fresh Hass avocados have various health effects, including reducing cardiovascular disease risk, supporting weight loss, improving cognitive function, and promoting colonic microbiota health.
Dreher ML, Cheng FW, Ford NA Full Article
2021, Mar 17
Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Abdominal Pain
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Acupuncture is a complementary approach that can help reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic abdominal pain, specifically those with IBS and IBD syndromes.
Berger AA, Liu Y, Jin K, Kaneb A, Welschmeyer A, Cornett EM, Kaye AD, Imani F, Khademi SH, Varrassi G, Viswanath O, Urits I Full Article
2021, Aug
Effects of bioactive components of Pu-erh tea on gut microbiomes and health: A review
Food Chemistry
The study concludes that Pu-erh tea and its bioactive components have potential health benefits and can positively impact the structure of gut microbiomes.
Liu JY, He D, Xing YF, Zeng W, Ren K, Zhang C, Lu Y, Yang S, Ou SJ, Wang Y, Xing XH Full Article
2021, Nov 04
Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) Dietary Consumption for Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Future Pharmacology
Moderate-quality evidence suggests that kiwifruit dietary consumption can significantly improve complete bowel movements per week and decrease stool consistency. Even though this effect is likely due to the high fibre content of kiwifruits, their consumption can have beneficial effects beyond a mere physiological action on intestinal motility, including a mild anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect on the gut barrier.
Antonelli M, Donelli D Full Article
2020, Jul
The Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Management of Functional Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
This systematic review suggests that acupuncture for FC is safe and effective. It is reduced stool frequency and improved constipation symptoms and stool formation. It also showed that acupuncture may be more effective than pharmacological treatment. Therefore, it has less side effects and improving overall quality of life.
Wang, Lu; Xu, Mingmin; Zheng, Qianhua; Zhang, Wei; Li, Ying. Full Article
2020, May 21
Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture and electroacupuncture for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review
World Journal of Gastroenterology
Guo Y, Wei W, Chen JD Full Article
2020, Oct 27
Efficacy of Banxia Xiexin decoction for chronic atrophic gastritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
PLOS One Public Library of Science
The meta-analysis showed that Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD) was more effective and safer for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients than the control group
Cao Y, Zheng Y, Niu J, Zhu C, Yang D, Rong F, et al. Full Article
2020, Jan 29
Network Pharmacology-Based Strategy to Investigate the Pharmacologic Mechanisms of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. for the Treatment of Chronic Gastritis
Frontiers in Pharmacology
We showed that AMK probably influences the inflammatory response, amino acid synthesis, and energy metabolism when treating CG. This study provides novel insights for researchers to explore the mechanism of action of TCM systematically.
Yang S, Zhang J, Yan Y, Yang M, Li C, Li J, Zhong L, Gong Q, Yu H Full Article
2020, Nov 27
The effect of different drinking water in culture medium on feces microbiota diversity
Journal of Water and Health
The study concludes that the type of drinking water used as a culture medium affects the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota, with mineral water leading to an increase in diversity and the promotion of Bacteroidetes growth.
Zhou K, Liu W, Chen Z, Yang D, Qiu Z, Feng H, Li C, Jin M, Li J, Xu Q, Shen Z Full Article
2020, Jan 15
Chemical Profile, Antioxidative, and Gut Microbiota Modulatory Properties of Ganpu Tea: A Derivative of Pu-erh Tea
Nutrients
Ganpu tea and GCP could significantly enhance the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 13.4% (p < 0.05) and 15.1% (p < 0.01), as well as the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) by 16.3% (p < 0.01) and 20.5% (p < 0.01), respectively. Both showed better antioxidant capacities than Pu-erh tea. Ganpu tea increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus, suggesting the potential of Ganpu tea in modulating the gut microbiota to benefit human health. The obtained results provide essential information for further investigation of Ganpu tea
Zheng Y, Zeng X, Chen T, Peng W, Su W Full Article
2019, Nov 11
Comparison between the Effects of Acupuncture Relative to Other Controls on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis
Pain Research and Management
This meta-analysis research collectively showed that acupuncture has a higher efficacy rate when combined with western medicine. Patients showed improved long term clinical symptoms such as abdominal pain and altered defecation habits, thus and overall greater quality of life.
Zheng H, Chen R, Zhao X, Li G, Liang Y, Zhang H, Chi Z Full Article
2019, Jun 17
Mechanisms Underlying the Prevention and Treatment of Cholelithiasis Using Traditional Chinese Medicine
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The Chinese herbal compounds (CHCs) can maintain and protect the liver function, improve biliary fluid dynamics, and regulate the inflammatory reaction. Theoretically, Chinese herbal compounds (CHCs) can amend the lithogenic environment either pre- or postoperatively. Hence, Chinese herbal compounds (CHCs) should prevent the recurrence of gallstones.
Chen Q, Zhang Y, Li S, Chen S, Lin X, Li C, Asakawa T Full Article
2018, Dec 11
Acupuncture in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
This review have showed effectiveness of acupuncture in IBD with history and methodology of acupuncture. Symptoms such as abdominal pain, impaired gastrointestinal tract , depression/anxiety, and hypersensitivity have significantly improved. Patients also reported a better overall quality of life of patients.
Gengqing Song, MD, Claudio Fiocchi, MD, Jean-Paul Achkar, MD Full Article
2018, Jan
Effects of Alkaline-Reduced Drinking Water on Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
In a randomized controlled trial involving 27 patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS, those who ingested at least 2 liters/day of alkaline-reduced water (ARW) for eight weeks showed significant improvement in IBS quality-of-life scores compared to the control group ingesting placebo water. Additionally, a higher percentage of patients in the ARW group reported symptom improvement, and the abdominal pain score showed a numerical decrease in the ARW group. The findings suggest that the consumption of ARW for eight weeks may positively impact the quality of life in individuals with diarrhea-predominant IBS.
Shin DW, Yoon H, Kim HS, Choi YJ, Shin CM, Park YS, Kim N, Lee DH Full Article
2017, Dec 18
Systematic review and meta-analysis of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome
PLOS One Public Library of Science
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) showed greater improvement in terms of clinical efficacy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) than cisapride and mosapride.
Dan-yan Li , Yun-kai Dai , Yun-zhan Zhang, Meng-xin Huang, Ru-liu Li, Jia Ou-yang, Wei-jing Chen, Ling Hu Full Article
2017, Jan
Consumption of kiwifruit capsules increases Faecalibacterium prausnitzii abundance in functionally constipated individuals: a randomised controlled human trial
Journal of Nutritional Science
Livauxâ„¢ supplementation increased abundance, which offers a potential strategy for improving gut microbiota composition, as is a butyrate producer and has anti-inflammatory effects.
Blatchford P, Stoklosinski H, Eady S, Wallace A, Butts C, Gearry R, Gibson G, Ansell J Full Article
2016, Dec 29
Acupuncture for Functional Dyspepsia: What Strength Does It Have? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Based on current available evidence, acupuncture therapy achieves statistically significant effect for functional dyspepsia in comparison with sham acupuncture and is superior to medication (prokinetic agents) in improving the symptoms and quality of life of functional dyspepsia patients.
Bo Pang, Tao Jiang, Yuan-Hao Du, Jing Li, Bo Li, Ya-Cai Hu, Qiu-Han Ca Full Article
2015, Jul 21
Acupuncture and regulation of gastrointestinal function
World Journal of Gastroenterology
In this review, we discuss the regulation on gastrointestinal (GI) function through acupuncture from the perspectives of GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis. The results of studies in both humans and animals suggest that acupuncture has the potential to treat GI disorders by regulating GI motility, the GI barrier, visceral sensitivity, and the brain-gut axis. In addition, the dual regulatory effects and the intensity-dependent nature of acupuncture on GI motility are discussed.
Li H, He T, Xu Q, Li Z, Liu Y, Li F, Yang BF, Liu CZ. Full Article
2013, Mar 12
The jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit: a review of current knowledge of fruit composition and health benefits
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
This review may be useful for predicting other medicinal uses and potential drug or food interactions and may be beneficial for people living where the jujube fruits are prevalent and health care resources are scarce.
Gao QH, Wu CS, Wang M. Full Article
2013, Sep 24
Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
This review suggests that acupuncture and moxibustion therapy demonstrates better efficacy than oral sulphasalazine (SASP) in treating inflammatory bowel diseases. However, robust evidence is limited and higher-quality randomised controlled trials are needed.
Ji, J., Lu, Y., Liu, H., Feng, H., Zhang, F., Wu, L., Cui, Y., & Wu, H. Full Article
“It is by virtue of the twelve channels that human life exists, that disease arises, that human beings can be treated and illness cured. The twelve channels are where beginners start and masters end.” The Classic of Acupuncture
Circa 1st Century BCE