Acupuncture and herbs outperform drug therapy

Zhuji Disan Renming Hospital researchers conclude that acupuncture combined with herbal medicine is effective for the alleviation of pain and discomfort due to surgical removal of the gallbladder (postcholecystectomy syndrome). A Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment group was administered a classic herbal formula (Si Ni San) and a semi-protocolized acupuncture point prescription. The TCM treatment group had a 98.1% total effective rate. A drug control group received conventional drug therapy and had an 85.4% total effective rate. The results demonstrate that the integration of acupuncture and herbal medicine into postoperative protocols produces significant positive patient outcomes. Let’s take a look at the results.

Postcholecystectomy Syndrome (PCS) refers to the presence of pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen after surgical removal of the gallbladder. In China, PCS occurs in about 30 to 40% of patients who undergo cholecystectomy, and 15% of PCS cases are severe cases. Characteristic symptoms include indigestion, nausea, belching, upper abdominal discomfort, upper abdominal distention after eating, abnormal defecation, fatigue, and in severe cases, jaundice and fever. This study focuses on a scientific comparison between drug therapy and acupuncture plus herbs therapy for the treatment of PCS.

The study design was as follows. A total of 100 patients with PCS were treated and evaluated in the study. All patients were diagnosed with PCS between July 2010 and July 2014. They were divided into a control group and a treatment group, with 48 cases in the drug control group and 52 cases in the TCM treatment group.

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Research Abstract

Acupuncture And Herbs Provide Relief After Gallbladder Surgery

(Via Health CMi)