Evaluating the effect of single auriculotherapy point for large intestine among indivisuals with functional constipation - A randomized control trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders affecting young adults and university students due to poor dietary habits, low fiber intake, inadequate hydration, stress, sedentary lifestyle, and irregular bowel habits. It is characterized by infrequent bowel movements, hard stools, straining during defecation, abdominal bloating, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation. Although conventional management such as laxatives and dietary modifications provides temporary relief, prolonged use may cause side effects including bloating, abdominal cramps, and dependency. Therefore, there is an increasing need for safe, simple, and non-invasive complementary therapies. Auriculotherapy, a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is based on stimulation of specific auricular points corresponding to internal organs and body systems. The Large Intestine auricular point is believed to regulate intestinal motility, improve bowel function, and restore the flow of Qi, thereby relieving constipation symptoms.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of single-point auriculotherapy at the Large Intestine auricular point in improving symptoms of functional constipation among young adults.

METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included 60 participants aged between 18 and 25 years diagnosed with functional constipation. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: Experimental Group (Group A) and Control Group (Group B), with 30 participants in each group. The experimental group received press needle auriculotherapy at the Large Intestine auricular point, while the control group received sham auriculotherapy using adhesive plaster without active stimulation. The intervention was administered three sessions per week for four weeks. Baseline assessments were recorded before the intervention, and post-intervention assessments were conducted after completion of the four-week treatment period.

ASSESSMENT: Bowel function and constipation severity were assessed using standardized outcome measures. Bowel movement frequency was evaluated using a daily Bowel Diary. Constipation severity was assessed using the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS), which included symptoms such as abdominal bloating, hard stool, straining, rectal fullness, and incomplete evacuation. Abdominal discomfort and symptom severity were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), with scores ranging from 0 to 10.

RESULTS: The study demonstrated significant improvement in constipation symptoms following single-point auriculotherapy intervention. CAS scores and bowel movement frequency showed highly significant improvement after four weeks of intervention (p < 0.001), indicating reduced constipation severity and improved bowel habits. The experimental group showed better clinical improvement compared to the control group. VAS scores showed mild improvement in abdominal discomfort, although the changes were not statistically significant. The observed improvement may be associated with activation of the vagus nerve and autonomic nervous system modulation, which enhances intestinal motility and colon peristalsis.

CONCLUSION: Single-point auriculotherapy at the Large Intestine auricular point may serve as a safe, simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive complementary therapy for managing functional constipation among young adults. The findings suggest that auriculotherapy effectively improves bowel movement frequency and reduces constipation severity, thereby contributing to better bowel health and quality of life. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are recommended to establish long-term effectiveness and broader clinical applicability.

KEYWORDS: Functional Constipation, Auriculotherapy, Large Intestine Point, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Bowel Movement Frequency, Constipation Assessment Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Young Adults, Complementary Therapy.