A 2019 gastritis study found acupuncture more effective than proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics for treating chronic gastritis. In a 2020 companion investigation, acupuncture boosted the effectiveness of drugs treating H. pylori in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. H. pylori is a bacteria causing inflammation, ulcers, and other GI issues.
Acupuncture Versus Drugs
Researchers at the Dezhou Third People’s Hospital compared the therapeutic benefits of acupuncture with pharmaceutical medications. The drug control group received proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics and reported a 75% effective rate.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces stomach acid. Amoxicillin and metronidazole are antibiotics for treating H. pylori. In comparison, the acupuncture treatment group had a 92% total effective rate. Acupuncture outperformed the drug group by 17. [1]
Study Participants
All 120 patients in this gastritis study were diagnosed with chronic atrophic gastritis. Investigators randomly divided participants into two groups (drug control and acupuncture treatment), with 60 patients in each group. Both groups had no significant difference in demographics after randomization.
The treatment group had 25 males and 35 females, with a mean age of 48.1 years, mean weight of 64.1 kg, and an average course of disease of 4.9 years. The control group had 22 males and 38 females, with a mean age of 47.6 years, mean weight of 63.9 kg, and an average course of disease of 5.1 years.
The control group received omeprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole, and Vitamin B. In contrast, the treatment group received acupuncture. Researchers conducted treatments once a day for a total of 2 months.
Acupuncture for Gastritis
Practitioners in the gastritis study selected acupoints for the treatment group based on differential diagnostic patterns.
Patients with spleen and stomach deficiency received the following acupoints:
BL20 (Pishu)
BL21 (Weishu)
CV12 (Zhongwan)
CV6 (Qihai)
CV4 (Guanyuan)
PC6 (Neiguan)
SP10 (Xuehai)
ST36 (Zusanli)
SP4 (Gongsun)
Patients with liver depression transforming into fire received the following acupoints:
LV3 (Taichong)
PC6 (Neiguan)
GB41 (Zulinqi)
ST36 (Zusanli)
ST44 (Neiting)
LV2 (Xingjian)
Patients with blood stasis blocking the channels received the following acupoints:
SP10 (Xuehai)
ST34 (Liangqiu)
PC6 (Neiguan)
ST36 (Zusanli)
SP6 (Sanyinjiao)
BL20 (Pishu)
BL18 (Ganshu)
Patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency received the following acupoints:
LV3 (Taichong)
SP4 (Gongsun)
PC6 (Neiguan)
ST36 (Zusanli)
BL20 (Pishu)
CV12 (Zhongwan)
CV6 (Qihai)
Acupuncture Group Had Better Outcomes
The acupuncture group in the gastritis study had better outcomes in treating chronic atrophic gastritis. In addition, two months after completion of treatments, the acupuncture group reported only two adverse reactions (3.3% adverse reaction rate), while the drug therapy group reported 12 adverse reactions (20.0% adverse reaction rate).
More Gastritis Study Results
Another independent investigation, published in the Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, had similar results. Researchers conducted a study comparing the effects of drug monotherapy to acupuncture combined with drug therapy. Based on the data, the researchers concluded that acupuncture plus drug therapy was significantly more effective than drug therapy alone. [2]
Investigators determined results based on symptom scores (bloating, stomach ache, heartburn, etc.), serum levels of IL-7 and IL-10, H. pylori eradication rate, and the total effective rate. IL-7 and IL-10 are cytokines with anti-inflammatory properties. Investigators have previously recorded inhibited IL-10 and elevated IL-7 levels in gastritis patients with H. pylori infections. [3]
Gastritis Study Findings
After treatment, the scores of clinical symptoms improved in both groups. However, the acupuncture treatment group scores were significantly better than those in the drug control group. In addition, the H. pylori eradication and total effective rates in the treatment group were significantly higher than in the control group.
Study Details
Both groups received clarithromycin (500 mg, twice a day), amoxicillin (1 g, twice a day), and omeprazole (20 mg, twice a day) for 14 days. In addition, the acupuncture treatment group received the following acupoints:
CV12 (Zhongwan)
PC6 (Neiguan)
ST36 (Zusanli)
Practitioners retained needles for 30 minutes, applying needle manipulation techniques once per session. Acupuncture combined with medications produced a positive patient outcome rate of 92.5% for treating H. pylori-positive gastritis, while drugs alone produced a 76.1% positive patient outcome rate. The combination therapy had superior patient outcomes.
Raleigh Acupuncture Gastritis Treatment
We have great success treating gastritis with acupuncture and typically see the same impressive results as this gastritis study. So, if you have stomach pain, or have been diagnosed with gastritis, come in and see what acupuncture can do for you.
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Additional Resources
First Gastritis Research Study.
Gastritis Acupuncture Case Study.
References
[1] Zhu FB. Efficacy of acupuncture on Chronic Atrophic Gastritis, inflammatory factor, and the quality of life [J]. Clinical Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2019, 11(29):42-44.
[2] Han XJ, Du JH, Bi LB, Sharen GW, Huge JL. Observation of the Efficacy of Wei San Zhen plus PPI-based Triple Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori Positive Chronic Atrophic Gastritis [J/OL]. Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 2020(01):11-14[2020-03-07].
[3] Yan HY, Wang HJ, Zhang XL. Detection and significance of Th17 with Helicobacter pylori infection-related gastritis [J]. Journal of Medical Research, 2017, 46(8):142-144.
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