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World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2014; 20(20): 6044-6054
Published online May 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6044
Acupuncture-moxibustion in treating irritable bowel syndrome: How does it work?
Xiao-Peng Ma, Jue Hong, Cai-Ping An, Dan Zhang, Yan Huang, Huan-Gan Wu, Cui-Hong Zhang, Sian Meeuwsen
Xiao-Peng Ma, Jue Hong, Dan Zhang, Huan-Gan Wu, Cui-Hong Zhang, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture-moxibustion and Immunology, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai 200030, China
Cai-Ping An, Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
Yan Huang, Graduate School, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Sian Meeuwsen, Research Department, Bodystat Ltd., Douglas IM99 1DQ, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Ma XP, Wu HG and Zhang CH made the concept of the manuscript; Ma XP, Hong J, Zhang D, An CP and Huang Y collected the data; Ma XP, Hong J and An CP collated the data and wrote the manuscript together; Zhang CH and Wu HG approved the final version of the manuscript; Meeuwsen S edited the language.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81273843, No. 81072879; National Key Basic Research Program of China, No. 2009CB522900
Correspondence to: Cui-Hong Zhang, PhD, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture-moxibustion and Immunology, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, South Wanping Road, Shanghai 200030, China. zjtnyx@126.com
Telephone: +86-21-64690257 Fax: +86-21-64382181
Received: September 28, 2013
Revised: February 13, 2014
Accepted: February 26, 2014
Published online: May 28, 2014
Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional intestinal disease characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habits. It has drawn great attention because of its high prevalence, reoccurring symptoms, and severe influence on patients’ lives. Many clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture-moxibustion in treating IBS. Increasing attention has been paid to research regarding the action mechanisms of acupuncture-moxibustion for IBS, and the adoption of modern techniques has achieved some progress. This article reviews the latest advances among action mechanism studies from the perspectives of gastrointestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, the brain-gut axis, the neuroendocrine system, and the immune system. It is shown that acupuncture-moxibustion can effectively regulate the above items, and thus, this treatment should have a high efficacy in the treatment of IBS. This article also identifies existing problems in current mechanism research and raises several ideas for future studies. Further revelations regarding these action mechanisms will promote the application of acupuncture-moxibustion in treating IBS.

Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome, Acupuncture-moxibustion, Mechanism study, Gastrointestinal motility, Visceral hypersensitivity, Brain-gut axis

Core tip: This is a review of the latest advances made towards identifying the action mechanisms of acupuncture-moxibustion in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). How does this ancient therapy affect gastrointestinal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, the brain-gut axis, the neuroendocrine system, the immune system, and other factors involved in the pathogenesis of IBS? This paper details answers to these questions.