Comparative study on effect of electroacupuncture at lower he-sea point of stomach and he-sea matching front-mu points for gastroparesis

Abstract

To explore the efficacy difference of electroacupuncture at lower he-sea point and he-sea matching front-mu points for the treatment of gastroparesis. A total of 63 patients with gastroparesis were randomly divided into a lower he point group (group A, 32 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a he matching mu points group (group B, 31 cases, 1 case dropped off). The group A was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), and the group B was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12). Both groups were treated with continuous wave (2 Hz in frequency) for 30 min, once a day, 5 times a week for 3 weeks. The gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) score, gastric half-emptying time (T1/2) and the 180 min gastric residual rate of the two groups before and after treatment were observed, and the clinical effective rate was compared. After treatment, the total GCSI scores, T1/2 and the 180 min gastric residual rates in both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01), and the 180 min gastric residual rate and T1/2 in the group A were lower than those in the group B (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the group A, which was superior to 70.0% (21/30) in the group B (P<0.05). Electroacupuncture at lower he-sea point and he-sea matching front-mu points can both be used to treat gastroparesis, but electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) has a better effect. The acupoints of Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12) may have antagonistic effects.