Present studies on gastrointestinal complaints support the efficacy
of acupuncture in the regulation of gastrointestinal motor activity
and secretion. These effects appear to work through opioid and other
neural pathways. Several descriptive accounts have reported acupuncture
to be effective for diarrhea, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel
syndrome and cholelithiasis. Many gastrointestinal disorders are
exacerbated by stress, and acupuncture has been shown to relieve
stress, so this is an area of potential interest for future studies.
Filshie and White write:
“The function of the gut is regulated by a combination of
enteric nerves, afferent and efferent autonomic function and psychoimmunological
influences. The subtleties of the interplay between endogenous opioid
and CCK secretion, 5-HT and autonomic nerve manipulation by acupuncture
are only just beginning to be studied. Drug treatment is currently
directed at specific targets such as smooth muscle, the enteric
nervous system, sensory receptors in the gut, autonomic nerves and
the brain. Acupuncture is likely to work at multiple sites simultaneously,
utilizing endogenous transmitters at lower and more specific amounts
and ‘doses’ than drug therapy and with fewer side effects.”
(Medical Acupuncture, p.233).
See the following:
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