A small study was recently published which sought to begin to establish research-tested evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture for IBS. The sample size was quite tiny: a comparison was made between 10 IBS patients who received 10 sessions of acupuncture and 20 IBS patients who received standard medical care. The results were quite promising, as the acupuncture patients showed a significant decrease in IBS symptoms. Obviously further and much more large scale studies are needed before a conclusion about the effectiveness of acupuncture for IBS can be made.

In the meantime, two alternative treatment forms have had wide-scale research support for their effectiveness in treating IBS. Check them out:

• Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Source:

Reynolds, J., Bland, J. & Macpherson, H. “Acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome an exploratory randomised controlled trial.” Acupuncture in Medicine 2008 26:8-16.