Objective

2

To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with medication in the treatment of functional constipation in elderly with

yang

deficiency and

qi

stagnation and its effect on emotional disorder.

Methods

2

A total of 86 elderly patients with functional constipation of

yang

deficiency and

qi

stagnation were randomly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group (43 cases

1 case dropped out

1 case was eliminated) and a medication group (43 cases

1 case dropped out). The medication group was treated with lactulose oral solution

once a day；in the acupuncture and moxibustion group

on the basis of the treatment in the medication group

acupuncture at intestinal three points (bilateral Tianshu [ST25

]

Shangjuxu [ST37

]

and Guanyuan [CV4

]

were selected

30 min each time

once every other day) combined with thunder-fire moxibustion (Shenque [CV8

]

was selected

30 min each time

once every other day) was given. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment

the patient assessment of constipation symptoms (PAC-SYM) score

defecation situation (defecation interval time

defecation time

defecation frequency) and the scores of TCM syndrome

patient assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QOL)

Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)

self-rating anxiety scale (SAS)

self-rating depression scale (SDS) were observed in the two groups. The clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated.

Results

2

Compared before treatment

after

treatment

the PAC-SYM scores

defecation interval time

defecation time

TCM syndrome scores

PAC-QOL scores

SAS scores and SDS scores in both groups were decreased (

P

<

0.05)

the defecation frequency was increased (

P

<

0.05) in the two groups; the PSQI score in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was decreased (

P

<

0.05). The PAC-SYM score

defecation interval time

defecation time

TCM syndrome score

PAC-QOL score

PSQI score

SAS score and SDS score after treatment in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were lower than those in the medication group (

P

<

0.05)

and the defecation frequency in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was higher than that in the medication group (

P

<

0.05). The total effective rate of the acupuncture and moxibustion group was 92.7% (38/41)

which was higher than 73.8% (31/42) in the medication group (

P

<

0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the acupuncture and moxibustion group was 2.44% (1/41)

while that in the medication group was 4.76% (2/42)

there was no significant difference between the two groups (

P

>

0.05).

Conclusion

2

Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with medication could improve the defecation situation

emotional disorder

quality of life in elderly patients with functional constipation of

yang

deficiency and

qi

stagnation.