Crossover Clinical Trial to Determine the Effect of Manual Acupuncture at Siguan Points (Bilateral LI4 and LR3) on Intestinal Motility in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

This study examined whether manual acupuncture at the Siguan points (bilateral points LI4 and LR3) affects intestinal motility in healthy human subjects. Twenty healthy male subjects were randomly assigned either to real acupuncture (RA) at Siguan points or sham acupuncture (SA) groups in a crossover manner. All subjects underwent two experimental sessions; the RA group in the first session was treated with SA in the second session after a 2-week washout period, and vice versa. Each subject took 20 radio-markers and was treated with acupuncture 0, 12, 24, and 36 hours after radio-marker intake. Radiographs were taken at 6, 12.5, 24.5, and 48 hours, and the effect of acupuncture on intestinal motility was evaluated based on the distribution of the radio-markers in the ileum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid/ rectum, and outside the body. Defecating habit was monitored during the trial, and complete blood counts were checked before and after the two acupuncture sessions. The RA and SA results showed extremely similar distributions of the radio-markers in these five regions of the alimentary canal and outside the body in radiographs taken at four different times, verifying that there was no effect of manual acupuncture at the Siguan points on intestinal motility, at least in healthy human subjects.

Effect of Acupuncture on Reducing Duration of Postoperative Ileus After Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Pilot Study Using Sitz Marker

“…30 Several clinical trials reported that acupuncture at LI 4 and LR 3 could modulate intestinal motility. 31,32 Although the GV 20, GV 26, CV 24, and EX HN3 points are located in the head, the meridian of these acupoints flows through the central vertical line of the body and is also effective in treating GI disorders.…”

Gastrointestinal motility disorders and acupuncture

“…In twenty healthy volunteers, EA at Siguan points (bilateral points LI4 and LR3) was shown to have little effects on small and large intestinal transit assessed radiographically (Yim et al, 2007). However, the sensitivity used for the assessment of the intestinal transit was questionable.…”

Feeding, stooling and sleeping patterns in infants with colic - a randomized controlled trial of minimal acupuncture

“…Possible explanations could be a reduction of pain as shown in adults [20], a beneficial effect on other visceral symptoms such as nausea which has been reduced by acupuncture in adults [21,22] and in children [23], an altered gastric motility [24] or changed gastric emptying as shown in adult patients with motility disorders [25]. Furthermore acupuncture affected constipation in children [26] even though gastric motility in healthy adult humans was not altered [27]. Finally a sedative effect of acupuncture could explain the reduction of colic as it has been demonstrated to promote sleep in adults [28].…”