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Acupuncture for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Insights from New Research

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research has shown that traditional Chinese medicine, particularly acupuncture, can provide effective relief for individuals suffering from functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). A recent study from the Hebei University of Chinese Medicine aimed to identify the most commonly used acupoints and meridians in acupuncture treatment for FGIDs. By analyzing data from various databases, the researchers found that the stomach meridian, conception vessel, and bladder meridian were frequently utilized, with the Five-shu points being the most commonly used acupoints.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed data from 18 Aug 2023 to identify the most commonly used acupoints and meridians in acupuncture treatment for FGIDs.
  • The stomach meridian, conception vessel, and bladder meridian were the most frequently utilized meridians.
  • The Five-shu points were the most commonly used acupoints.
  • The Shangjuxu-Tianshu (ST37-ST25) combination was the most common acupuncture combination in clinical settings.
  • The acupoints ST36, ST25, Zhongwan (CV12), and Guanyuan (CV4) constituted the core groups of acupoints.
  • The stomach meridian of the foot-yangming was frequently utilized, aligning with the core meridian theory.
  • The treatment of FGIDs focuses on specific acupoints, with the most effective option being the combination of the Front Mu and Lower-he(sea) points.
  • The research concluded that these findings provide novel insights for the clinical management of FGIDs.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed data from 18 Aug 2023.
  • The stomach meridian was utilized in 54% of the analyzed data.
  • The conception vessel was utilized in 47% of the analyzed data.
  • The bladder meridian was utilized in 41% of the analyzed data.

Sources:

  • Acupoints Compatibility Rules of Acupuncture for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Based on Data Mining Technology: A Systematic Review. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 2025;54(8):1591-1607.
  • Iranian Scientific Society Medical Entomology, School Public Health & Inst Health Research, Tehran Univ Medical Sciences, P O Box 6446-14155, Tehran, 00000, Iran.
  • Yuanbo Gao, College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Massage, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
  • Iranian Journal of Public Health can be contacted at: Iranian Scientific Society Medical Entomology, School Public Health & Inst Health Research, Tehran Univ Medical Sciences, P O Box 6446-14155, Tehran, 00000, Iran.

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