Acupuncture dates back to ancient China over 3,000 years ago, and is a therapy of traditional Chinese medicine that stimulates certain points on the body with single use needles. These points called ‘acupoints’ are a gathering of nerves that connect different organs to each other. According to acupuncture principles, these acupoints represent channels that carry ‘qi’, or our vital energy throughout our body. By engaging these particular points, it is believed that energy flow is restored which stimulates healing, relaxation, and promotes pain relief.
When stimulating these acupoints many different techniques can be used. In traditional acupuncture needles are inserted at various depths and are twirled, lifted, or thrusted. Electroacupuncture still uses needles, but they are stimulated with electrical pulses. Another form of this is TEA or transcutaneous electroacupuncture. The last form, and the one that has been shown to help IBD the most, is moxibustion. This type of acupuncture involves burning moxa in the shape of a small cone or stick on particular acupoints to stimulate them by heat, acting as a catalyst to improve qi flow.
Although acupuncture is over 3,000 years old, it is still relatively new to the US with it being approved by the FDA for pain management in 1990. So how exactly does acupuncture help with pain? Scientific research has found that the acupoints used overlap with bundles of nerves. This adds supporting evidence and validity to the effects seen from using acupuncture. It has also been shown to improve mental health. Up to 30% of people with IBD suffer from anxiety and/or depression. In 2017, a study was done on those with Crohn’s receiving electroacupuncture. They found that over the 12 weeks after multiple MRI readings, that patients’ brains were physically changing. The area of the brain that underwent the change is referred to as the homeostatic processing area, which is responsible for regulating pain, specifically in the gut. This easing of pain also led to reduced anxiety and depression. In short, acupuncture has the ability to retrain the brain gut connection and could be extremely beneficial for those with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.
Another compelling study was conducted in 2014 to evaluate Crohn’s and moxibustion. They found that at the end of just three weeks, with three sessions a week, patients had reduced symptoms. By the end of 12 weeks 74% of those patients achieved remission and reported increased quality of life scores. In comparison only 34% of the placebo group achieved reduced symptoms. In 2019 a large review of animal studies found acupuncture helped reduce diarrhea, weight loss, and inflammation markers in blood. As for Ulcerative colitis, only one large study has been done to evaluate the benefits of acupuncture, but the results were not consistent enough to provide percentages. What is clear is that there is a connection between acupuncture and improved gut mobility, microbiome, and pain management. However, more studies will need to be done in this area for more concrete evidence.
A large meta review of acupuncture in Crohn’s specifically concluded that acupuncture therapy in conjunction with traditional medication led to the highest success rates of improved quality of life and remission. It also saw reduced inflammatory markers in blood work overall following acupuncture treatments. In other trials those with IBD receiving electroacupuncture and/or moxibustion acupuncture showed improved gut bacteria with lower levels of pro-inflammatory molecules like TNF-alpha and IL-12. In addition, proteins that stimulate intestinal healing were found to be positively influenced as well. While there is no doubt more research in this area needs to be done, there is mounting evidence in favor of acupuncture for all sorts of ailments, including IBD. This method of ancient alternative medicine just might be a major key in IBD treatment in the future.
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