Acupuncture helps restore bowel function after surgery

Clinicians in Hong Kong have found that electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment reduces both the duration of post-operative ileus (POI – hypomotility of the gastrointestinal tract following surgery) and length of hospital stay following laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. In a prospective study, 165 cancer patients undergoing laparoscopy were assigned randomly to three groups, who received EA or sham acupuncture once daily from postoperative days one to four, or no acupuncture. The acupoints Zusanli ST-26, Sanyinjiao SP-6, Hegu L.I.-4 and Zhigou SJ-6 were used. Patients who received EA demonstrated a significantly shorter time to defecation than patients who received no acupuncture (85.9 hours versus 122.1 hours), as well as a shorter length of hospital stay (6.5 days versus 8.5 days). Patients who received EA also had a shorter time to defecation than patients who received sham acupuncture (85.9 hours versus 107.5 hours). EA was also found to be more effective than sham or no acupuncture in reducing postoperative analgesic requirement and time taken for patients to be able to walk again. (Electroacupuncture Reduces Duration of Postoperative Ileus After Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer. Gastroenterology. 2012 Nov 6. pii:S0016-5085(12)01609-5).

Categories: Digestive Bowel disorders

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Moxibustion

moxibustion at essex acupuncture

Warming points through Moxibustion is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It utilises a substance called Moxa, which is made from the aged leaves of a herb called mugwort. Like the sun, moxa produces a comforting dry heat helping to eliminate dampness and cold in the body, alleviating Aches and Pains and supporting Aging Joints.

Pain Relief

pain-relief

If you are one of those people who has exhausted the chemical pills and potions of Western Medicine, then Acupuncture could be for you.
There are many patients who have been sent home to grin and bear it and, after many months of putting up with discomfort, the discovery of natural pain relief in the form of an acupuncture treatment can be the most wonderful experience.

Battlefield

battlefield-acupuncture

Originally developed to treat pain in US Air Force pilots who were unable to take medication while flying, this ear acupuncture technique has proved so effective in the relief of pain that many soldiers across the american forces have been trained so they can treat each other on the battlefield.