title: Moxibustion treatment for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a worldwide disease with high morbidity. The effect of current treatment with Western medicine is not satisfactory. Although moxibustion treatment is widely used for gastrointestinal diseases, randomized controlled trials on the use of this treatment for IBS are limited. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of moxibustion treatment in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-center, randomized, single-blind and placebo-controlled trial is employed. 104 cases will be divided into two groups: (1) a mild-warm moxibustion group in which moxa stick is 3-5 cm away from acupuncture points and the skin temperature is maintained at 43 ± 1 °C; and (2) a placebo moxibustion group in which moxa stick is 8-10 cm away from acupuncture points and the skin temperature is maintained at 37 ± 1 °C. Moxibustion is performed on bilateral ST25 and ST36 in the two groups for 30 min each time, three times a week for 6 weeks. The patients are followed up at the 12th and 18th weeks. Adequate relief is used as a primary outcome measure; IBS symptom severity score, Bristol stool form scale, IBS quality-of-life questionnaire, and hospital anxiety and depression scale are used as secondary outcome measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of moxibustion treatment for IBS-D, which may validate moxibustion as an effective therapy for treating IBS-D.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02421627 (8 April 2015).
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Chunhui
authors: C
authors: Bao
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Jingzhi
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Jinmei
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Huirong
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Luyi
authors: L
authors: Wu
authors: Outpatient Department, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Yueyang Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200082, China.
authors: Zhihai
authors: Z
authors: Hu
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Yongzheng
authors: Y
authors: Dong
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors: Siyao
authors: S
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors: Xiaoqing
authors: X
authors: Zeng
authors: Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, China. wuhuangan@126.com.
authors: Huangan
authors: H
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diarrhea; Irritable bowel syndrome; Moxibustion; Randomized controlled trial