Transcutaneous electrical acustimulation improves symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, study finds

The key findings of this study were:

1. TEA reduced abdominal pain and constipation. Following the treatment, the TEA group experienced more CSBMs per week during the previous week than the sham-TEA group.

2. The pain score on the visual analogue scale and the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Scoring System both showed similar results.

3. Additionally, the quality of life for people with constipation significantly improved.

4. In the TEA group, the overall Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life score was much lower.

5. TEA enhanced colon transit and raised the threshold of rectal feeling in comparison to sham-TEA.

6. When compared to sham-TEA, TEA increased vagal activity; at the conclusion of the therapy, the vagal activity was substantially connected with colon transit and the number of CSBMs/week.

In conclusion, in individuals with IBS-C, TEA at ST36 and PC6 with a particular combination of parameters reduces constipation and stomach discomfort, and the clinical impact can be partially sustained when the medication is stopped. The integrative effects of TEA on intestinal motility and rectal sensation, which are mediated via the autonomic system, may be responsible for the improvement in IBS-C symptoms.

Reference: 

Huang, Z., Lin, Z., Lin, C., Chu, H., Zheng, X., Chen, B., Du, L., Chen, J. D. Z., & Dai, N. (2022). Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Improves Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation by Accelerating Colon Transit and Reducing Rectal Sensation Using Autonomic Mechanisms. In American Journal of Gastroenterology (Vol. 117, Issue 9, pp. 1491–1501). https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000001882