[Multi-central randomized controlled trials of electroacupunture at Zhigou (TE 6) for treatment of constipation induced by stagnation or deficiency of qi].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zhigou (TE 6) on constipation induced by stagnation or deficiency of qi.


METHODS
Multi-central randomized controlled trials were adopted and the patients conforming to the criteria for diagnosis, enrolling and excluding were divided into an observation group and a control group according to random number table. The observation group were treated with EA at Zhigou (TE 6) and the control group with EA at non-acupoint for 4 weeks. The cumulative score of clinical symptoms, colon transmission test and various safety indexes were assessed. The following-up was carried out 1 and 3 months after the end of treatment.


RESULTS
EA at Zhigou (TE 6) could obviously improve clinical symptoms and colon transmission time, decrease using rate of Kaisailu and cathartics, with an effective rate of 94.4%, which was better than 61.3% in the control group (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
EA at Zhigou (TE 6) has a function of regulating qi and relaxing the bowels and it is an effective method for treatment of constipation with safety and no adverse effect.
Zhang
Zhi-long
ZL
Section of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin Hospital of TCM, Tianjin 300140, China. zhangzilongtj@yahoo.com.cn
Ji
Xue-qun
XQ
Zhao
Shu-hua
SH
Li
Peng
P
Zhang
Wen-zhu
WZ
Yu
Song-hua
SH
Wang
Chun-mei
CM
Liu
Zhan-fen
ZF
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003248:Constipation / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D019413:Qi