Acupuncture effectively reduces bloating, abdominal distention, and fullness due to chronic gastritis, dyspepsia, and gastroptosis. In this 2021 bloating pain acupuncture research study, conducted at Guangdong Yangjiang People’s Hospital, investigators concluded that acupuncture was more effective than pain medication for resolving abdominal bloating.
Bloating and Abdominal Distention
Chinese medicine has been safely treating bloating for thousands of years. The condition is called Pi Man (痞满), which translates to abdominal distention and fullness caused by chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and gastroptosis. Dyspepsia is pain or an uncomfortable feeling in the upper middle part of your stomach area, while gastroptosis is the abnormal downward displacement of the stomach. While not life-threatening, gastroptosis can cause constipation, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, nausea, and belching.
Bloating Pain Acupuncture Research
In this bloating pain acupuncture research study, the researchers enrolled eighty patients currently admitted to the hospital suffering from abdominal distention and bloating pain, dividing them into two groups.
Group One, the drug observation group, included 27 men and 13 women, ranging from 18 to 69 years, with a mean age of 49 years. All participants were diagnosed with abdominal distention for at least one month to 8 years, with an average course of disease of 2.3 years. Seventeen patients had chronic gastritis, 15 suffered from functional dyspepsia, and 8 cases involved gastroptosis.
Group Two, the acupuncture group, consisted of 25 male and 15 female participants. The age range was 25 to 75 years, with a mean age of 52 years. The disease course was three months to 10 years, averaging 2.5 years: 20 cases were chronic gastritis, 13 were functional dyspepsia, and 7 were gastroptosis.
Study Details
In this bloating pain acupuncture research study, Group One received a daily dose of 20 mg of rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets (a gastric acid secretion inhibitor) and one additional pharmaceutical medication. Treatment lasted for 14 days. Group Two received acupuncture and no prescription medicines.
Participants in Group Two received one of three acupuncture prescriptions, depending on their diagnosis. Those diagnosed with functional dyspepsia received the following acupoints: ST36, CV12, PC6, LV3, BL20, BL21, ST25, and ST21.
For chronic gastritis, acupuncture points included ST36, CV12, PC6, BL20, BL21, SP6, and CV4.
Acupuncturists applied the following acupoints for gastroptosis: ST36, CV12, CV13, BL21, ST25, CV6, and GV20.
After needle insertion, the practitioners elicited a “deqi” sensation, which is an achy feeling at the site of the needle. This needle manipulation technique assures a solid and effective treatment. Each session lasted 30 minutes, and participants received 14 treatments in total.
Monitoring Results
This bloating pain acupuncture research study implemented a symptom scoring system to record and assess treatment outcomes. The system used three levels: Level 1: 10-28 points, Level 2: 28-56 points, and Level 3: over 56 points.
Results Favored Acupuncture Over Medications
Upon completion of treatment, the score for Group Two (acupuncture) decreased significantly from 36 to 12, while Group One (medication) demonstrated a smaller improvement from 35 to 25.
The decreases in numerical value reflected reductions in abdominal distention and fullness. Thus, this bloating pain acupuncture research study clarifies that acupuncture is an effective treatment for abdominal distention and fullness caused by chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and gastroptosis.
Next Steps
BOOK NOW to schedule an appointment online.
Watch Video About Our Bloating Pain Treatment.
Learn about all the conditions we treat.
Reference
Lin Qiuyi, Cai Zhixiao, Liang Jiyuan, Clinical Observation of Treating Abdominal distention and fullness, China Snaturopathy, April. 2021, Vol. 29 No. 8.
Key Words: Bloating Pain Acupuncture Research, Abdominal Distention, Acupuncture
What our Clients are Saying
I developed severe abdominal pain following the stomach flu. Three rounds of antibiotics did not help. Neither did an elimination diet. Raleigh Acupuncture got rid of the pain in six treatments! Acupuncture is amazing. And so are they.
My acid reflux meds stopped working about three months ago and someone suggested acupuncture so I gave it a try. I couldn’t eat anything without having burning pain from my stomach up into my chest. What a relief from the acupuncture! They totally cured my reflux. I’ve been living with this, just managing it with medications, when all the while I could have cured it with this. Absolutely amazing! I love Raleigh Acupuncture!!
I have always had a nervous stomach. Some people get headaches, I get stomach aches. It’s always worse with stress and eases up on the weekends when I can relax. I did not think of getting treatment until I stumbled on an article saying how acupuncture was excellent for treating stomach pain. I went to Raleigh Acupuncture and described my condition. They explained why my stomach hurt. It totally made sense to me. It’s all about internal balance. So they went to work on me to get my stomach balanced. And I’m pleased to say that it worked. I no longer have a nervous stomach and stomach pain, even in stressful situations. I’ve made some changes to my diet, based on their recommendations, and took chinese herbs for a while, but don’t need to take them now. I’m convinced that I would have lived with stomach pain for the rest of my life had it not been for acupuncture.
