[Clinical trial of gastroesophageal reflux disease with the disharmony between liver and stomach syndrome treated with acupuncture regulating based on the compatibility of the five meridians].

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of the acupuncture regulating based on the compatibility of the five meridians and common western medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease with the disharmony between liver and stomach.

Methods: Sixty patients were divided into two groups according to non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and reflux esophagitis (RE). Those in the two groups were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group. There were 57 cases included (28 in the observation group with 2 dropping, 29 in the control group with 1 dropping). Based on the life care, patients in the observation group were treated with 30 min acupuncture regulating based on the compatibility of the five meridians at Zusanli (ST 36), Chongyang (ST 42), Weishu (BL 21), Zhongwan (CV 12), Xingjian (LR 2), Shaofu (HT 8), Dadun (LR 1), Taichong (LR 3), Ganshu (BL 18), Qimen (LR 14), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhongting (CV 16), three times a week. Patients in the control group were treated with rabeprazole orally. All the treatment was given for consecutive 8 weeks. The clinical symptom score was observed before and after treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. The effects were evaluated from 3 aspects, including the main symptoms, esophagitis improvement under gastroscope and total clinical symptoms.

Results: After treatment and at follow-up, the symptom scores decreased in the two groups compared with those before treatment (all <0.05), with better improvement in the observation group at follow-up (<0.05). The symptom scores after treatment of the two types in the two groups decreased compared with those before treatment (all <0.05). The total effective rate of heartburn after treatment in the observation group was 82.1% (23/28), which was lower than 93.1% (27/29) of the control group (<0.05). The total effective rate of belching after treatment in the observation group was 94.1% (16/17), which was better than 75.0% (15/20) in the control group (<0.05). The total effective rate of the esophagitis improvement under gastroscope after treatment in the observation group was 75.0% (12/16), and that in the control group was 82.4% (14/17), without statistical significance (>0.05). The total effective rate of the clinical symptoms after treatment in the observation group was 82.1% (23/28), and that in the control group was 86.2% (25/29), without statistical significance (>0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture regulating based on compatibility of the five meridians can effectively improve clinical symptoms and inflammation under gastroscope for gastroesophageal reflux disease with the disharmony between liver and stomach. This treatment has a longer curative effect and a greater alleviation of belching.