The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel where stools are stored. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers can develop on the colon's lining and can bleed and produce pus. The main symptoms of ulcerative colitis are: recurring diarrhoea with or without blood, mucus or pus, abdominal pain, urgency and frequency of needing to empty the bowels, especially after meals. Other common nonspecific symptoms include extreme tiredness (fatigue), loss of appetite and weight loss. The severity of the symptoms varies, depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed and how severe the inflammation is.
Acupuncture has traditionally been used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in China and is increasingly applied in Western countries. This is a study investigated the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. 29 patients with mild to moderately active UC (mean age 37.8 +/- 12.0 years) were recruited. They received treatments of 10 sessions over a period of 5 weeks and followed-up for 16 weeks. The results suggested that acupuncture seem to offer an additional therapeutic benefit in patients with mild to moderately active UC.
References
Stefanie Joos Scand J Gastroenterol. 2006 Sep;41(9):1056-63.
