[Experimental studies on acupuncture-moxibustion for irritable bowel syndrome in the past five years: a literature analysis].

OBJECTIVE

To sort out the experimental research literature on acupuncture-moxibustion for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to analyze the main research directions and progress of acupuncture-moxibustion for IBS.

METHODS

Experimental research literature on acupuncture-moxibustion for IBS was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. The screening period was limited from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024, and data analysis was performed on all included literature.

RESULTS

A total of 124 articles were included, among which 66 articles were on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), accounting for 53.23%. The most commonly used modeling methods were chronic acute combining stress (CAS/CACS) and restraint stress combined with senna gavage in IBS-D studies, each being reported in 14 articles (each accounting for 21.21%). Electroacupuncture was the most frequently used [50.00%(67/134)]. The core acupoints were Zusanli (ST36) (78 times, 26.17%), Tianshu (ST25) (76 times, 25.50%), and Shangjuxu(ST37) (52 times, 17.45%). Visceral sensitivity was the most commonly used effect evaluation index [81.45% (101/124)]. In the past five years, studies on acupuncture-moxibustion for IBS have mainly focused on regulation of visceral hypersensitivity, regulation of inflammatory factors, regulation of intestinal flora, protection of intestinal barrier function,improvement of behavior and depressive symptoms, and regulation of metabolic disorders.

CONCLUSION

In the past five years,mechanism studies on acupuncture-moxibustion for IBS have achieved certain breakthroughs, but there are still deficiencies in the standardization of effect evaluation indexes and modeling methods. Future studies need to optimize the evaluation system, standardize modeling methods, and combine multidisciplinary approaches to deeply explore the mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion.