Acupuncture shown to improve symptoms, overall wellbeing in Crohn's patients

Source: Digestion

A study recently investigated the traditional practice of using acupuncture to treat inflammatory bowel disease, a practice with origins in China that is now becoming more common in Western countries.

In order to test the effectiveness of acupuncture on active Crohn's disease, a trial provided patients with mild to moderately active Crohn's disease with 10 traditional acupuncture treatments over a period of 4 weeks, following up for 12 weeks. A control group received treatment at non-acupuncture points.

The study found that the traditional acupuncture treatment decreased patients’ Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI). There was also a “marked placebo effect” in that both groups experienced a decreased CDAI and “improvements in general well-being and quality of life.”

The authors conclude that traditional acupuncture offers “an additional therapeutic benefit” for patients with mild to moderate Crohn's disease.