title: A new acupuncture method for management of irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized double blind clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is gastrointestinal functional disorder which is multifactorial with unknown etiology. There are several modalities for treatment of it. Acupuncture is increasingly used in numerous diseases, also in gastrointestinal disorders like IBS. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of catgut embedding acupuncture in improving of IBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized double blind sham control clinical trial was designed. A total of 60 IBS patients assigned to three separated groups. The first group received clofac as drug only group (DO). The second one received catgut embedding acupuncture in special point (AP) and the last group received sham acupuncture (SA). Symptoms, pain, depression and anxiety assessed before and after two weeks at the end of study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was statistically significant difference between AP and SA and DO in constipation and bloating. Differences that were statistically significant favored acupuncture on pain (F = 6.409, P = 0.003), and depression (F = 6.735, P = 0.002) as the other outcomes. The average (standard deviation (SD)) of weight loss was 2 kg (0.88) in acupuncture group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding showed a significant positive associated between acupuncture and IBS. Catgut embedding acupuncture is a new method which can eliminated IBS symptoms and can use as alternative therapeutic method for improvement of IBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shariati Hospital, Najafabad Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rahmatollah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rafiei
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ataie
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallh Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Arash
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ramezani
authors.affiliation: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Najafabad Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Etemadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataei
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Shariati Hospital, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nikyar
authors.affiliation: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Najafabad Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdoli
keywords: Acupuncture; irritable bowel syndrome; randomized control trial