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Acupuncture
and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Active Crohn's Disease: A Randomized
Controlled Study.
Joos S,
Brinkhaus B, Maluche C, Maupai N, Kohnen R, Kraehmer N, Hahn EG, Schuppan
D.
Department of
Medicine I (Gastroenterology), Research Group for Alternative Medicine,
Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen,
Germany.
BACKGROUND:
Acupuncture has traditionally been used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel
disease in China and is increasingly being applied in Western countries. The
purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the
treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD).
METHODS: A
prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was carried out
to analyze the change in the CD activity index (CDAI) after treatment as a main
outcome measure, and the changes in quality of life and general well-being,
serum markers of inflammation (alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein)
as secondary outcome measures. 51 patients with mild to moderately active CD
were treated in a single center for complementary medicine by three trained
acupuncturists and randomly assigned to receive either traditional acupuncture
(TCM group, n = 27) or control treatment at non-acupuncture points (control
group, n = 24).
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