不同灸质、灸量、灸法刺激家兔“足三里”穴对胃电活动的影响

This article is focused on the changes of electrogastro-activity of rabbits being stimulated at Zusanli with different quality (moxawool vs. tobacco), the quantlty (strong stimulation vs. weak stimulation)and the type (moxasticks vs. moxacones), in order to find the best way to inhibit gastro-hyperactivitycaused by ACh(acetylcholine). The resuh shows that the effects of inhibiting gastro-hyperactivity ofmoxasticks were better than that of tobacco and moxacones, however, the small moxasticks can inhibitthe amplitude of gastro-electricity, the large ones has same effect on amplitude and frequency. From thisexperiment, we know that the effects of moxibustion were interrelated with quality, quantity and thetype of moxibustion

不同灸量、灸质、灸法的研究

灸法是我国最古老的医疗方法之一。本世纪20年代日本医学家就开始了灸法原理的实验研究,我国是60年代初开始的。近年来由于新技术的运用,使灸法得到了发展,本文就近年来国内外有关不同灸量、灸质、灸法的研究文献作一综述。灸量的研究 1、对皮温的影响会泽氏给小鼠施灸1壮及连续施灸3壮、20壮,同时测定施灸部位表皮上、真皮下的温度。结果是施灸一壮,艾炷重量为0.5～2mg时,其最高温度的上升、持续时间以及复原时间的延长最显著。

不同质和量的灸刺激“足三里”对利血平化大鼠胃肠运动功能的影响

本文对利血平化大鼠用不同质（艾绒、烟丝）和量（强、弱）的灸刺激“足三里”后，观察体重、体温、血中胆碱脂酶活性及胃肠酚红排推运动。实验结果显示：艾灸优于烟灸、艾条强刺激优于艾条弱刺激及烟条的强、弱刺激。艾条强刺激能明显提高血中胆碱脂酶活性（P＜0．05），抑制胃肠运动亢进（P＜0．05），维持正常体温（P＜0．05），限制体重减轻。提示灸质、灸量与灸效有密切关系。

INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT INTERVALS OF ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT ON BONE INTENSITY IN PRIMARY OSTEOPOROSIS PATIENTS

Objective: To observe the influence of different intervals of acupuncture treatment on bone intensity in primary osteoporosis subjects. Methods: A total of 45 cases of primary osteoporosis female patients were randomly divided into 1 treatment/week (1-T/W), 2 treatments/week (2-T/W) and 3 treatments/week (3-T/W) groups, with 15 cases being in each group. Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3) and Pishu (BL 20) were used and stimulated with reinforcing needling manipulation. For patients with deficiency syndrome of kidney-yang, thermal acupuncture was applied to Shenshu (BL 23), and for patients with spleen-deficiency syndrome, thermal acupuncture applied to Zusanli (ST 36). Results: After 6 months’ treatment, in 1-T/W group, no apparent change of bone intensity was observed, while in 2-T/W and 3-T/W groups, the bone intensity was increased significantly (P<0.05, 0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus moxibustion treatment twice or 3 times every week can obviously improve the bone intensity.

The Present State and Perspective in Treatment of Primary Osteoporosis by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Primary osteoporosis, a commonly encountered metabolic bone disease in the postmenopausal women and the aged people, can be classified by modern medicine into postmenopausal osteoporosis (Type I) and senile osteoporosis (Type II). The disease seriously affects health and quality of life of the people as it often cause ostealgia, fracture and the secondary symptoms or diseases. Presently, the pharmacotherapy (including both Chinese herbal drugs and western drugs) remains the first among all other therapeutic methods which are mainly adopted in treatment of the disease at home and abroad. Studies related have been curried out quite early and systematically, and considerable progress has been made, but limit of the pharmacotherapy has also been found. Certain non-drug treatments (such as dietetic therapy, physical exercise, acupuncture and moxibustion, and qigong, especially acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, although with a late start, have been proved effective with satisfactory results. The following is a summary of all the contributions concerned.……

Clinical observation on acupuncture for male osteoporosis

Objective To compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with drug and simple drug for treatment of male osteoporosis. Methods Fifty-five cases were divided into a comprehensive therapy group （observation group, 25 eases） and a medication （control group, 30 cases） randomly. The observation group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at Pishu （脾俞BL 20）, Shenshu （肾俞 BL 23）, Mingmen （命门 GV 4）, Shenque （神阙 CV 8） and so on combined with oral administration of Alendronate, while the control group was treated with oral administration of Alendronate simply. The improvement of both Integral of Clinical Symptoms （ICS） and Bone Mineral Density （BMD） of two groups were observed after 6 months treatment. Results The ICS of two groups after treatment both decreased significantly （both P〈0.001）, and the decreasing degree in observation group was more significant than that in control group （P〈0.001）. The BMD of lumbar vertebrae and femur in observation group increased obviously than that before treatment （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）. The increasing degree of BMD of lumbar vertebrae in observation group after treatment was more obvious than that in control group （P〈0.05）. There were abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia and other adverse reaction in control group, while the degree and occurrence rate of those in observation group alleviated and decreased obviously. Conclusion The effect of acupuncture combined with drug for male osteoporosis is good with little adverse reaction. This method is better than taking Alendronate.

Effects on activities of daily life and quality of life of post-stroke depression treated with electroacupuncture at temple-three-needle

Objective To explore the better treatment of post-stroke depression. Methods Sixty cases of post-stroke depression ranged from mild to middle degree were randomly divided into comprehensive therapy group and medication group, 30 cases in each group. In comprehensive therapy group, electroacupuncture at temple-three-needle was mainly applied and Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule was taken by oral administration; in medication group, Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule was applied by oral administration. Functional Independent Measure （FIM） Scale and WHOQOL-BREF evaluation results before and after treatment were compared after 4 weeks treatment. Results Comparing with the FIM scores before treatment, the differences in the two groups were significant （both P0.01）, and the improvement in comprehensive therapy group （74.97±9.52） was superior to that in medication group （66.70±9.23） （P0.01）. Signif icant differences were presented statistically in comparison of index scores of WHOQOL-BREF before and after treatment in two groups （P0.05, P0.01）, and it in comprehensive therapy group was superior to that in medication group （P0.05, P0.01）. Conclusion Activities of daily life and quality of life of post-stroke depression can be significantly improved by electroacupuncture at temple-three-needle and oral administration of Fluoxetine Hydrochloride capsule.

Clinical Study on Acupoint Injection for Primary Osteoporosis

Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of acupoint injection in treating primary osteoporosis. Methods:A hundred and fourteen eligible subjects were randomized at 2:1 into two groups. Seventy-six subjects in the observation group were intervened by acupoint injection, and 38 subjects in the control group were intervened by oral medication. Symptom and signs scores were observed before and after treatment. A two-year follow-up study was conducted to compare the long-term therapeutic efficacy between the two groups. Results:The recovery and markedly effective rate was 68.4% in the observation group versus 47.4% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). During the 2-year follow up study, 5 subjects in the observation group and 8 in the control group had new fracture, occupying 6.6% and 21.1% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion:In treating primary osteoporosis, acupoint injection has better short and long term therapeutic efficacies compared to oral medication, and it's convenient with high security evaluation.

Therapeutic effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion plus medications for senile osteoporosis and its effect on serum BMP-2 and OPG levels

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion plus medications on senile osteoporosis(SOP),and to explore the related mechanisms.Methods:A total of 70 elderly participants with osteoporosis were randomly divided into an observation group and control group,with 35 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional drugs,and the observation group was treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion on the basis of the conventional drugs.Both groups were treated for 3 months.Before and after treatment,assessed the visual analog scale(VAS)and Oswestry disability index(ODI)scores,determined the bone mineral density of the participants'lumbar spine(L2-L4)and left femoral neck,and detected the participants'serum bone morphogenetic protein-2(BMP-2)and osteoprotegerin(OPG)levels.Results:After treatment,the VAS scores of both groups were lower than before treatment(both P<0.05),and the VAS score of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the bone mineral density values of the lumbar spine and left femoral neck in both groups were significantly higher than before treatment(both P<0.05),and the bone mineral density values of the observation group were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the ODI scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment(both P<0.05),and the ODI score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the serum BMP-2 and OPG levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Heat-sensitive moxibustion plus medications for SOP can significantly relieve patients'pain,improve dysfunction,and increase bone density,which may be related to the improvement of the serum BMP-2 and OPG levels.

Effect of mild-warm moxibustion on fatigue, immunestate and quality of life in sub-health population

Objective： To observe the effect of mild-warm moxa stick moxibustion on fatigue, immune state and quality of life （QOL） in sub-health population. Methods： A total of 120 cases were randomly allocated into a moxibustion group （n=60） and a Chinese patent medicine （CPM） group （n=60）. People in the moxibustion group were intervened with mild-warm moxa stick moxibustion, once a day; while people in the control group took oral Bu Zhong Yi Qi Won （Spleen/stomach-supplementing and Qi-boosting Pill）, 3 doses a day. Two months made up a course of treatment. The fatigue, immune state and QOL were then observed after one treatment course, followed by a 12-month follow-up. Results： A total of 215 cases completed the clinical trial. After intervention, the fatigue scores, immune parameters and QOL scores were significantly increased in both groups, showing statistical significances （P〈0.05）. There were between-group significant differences in fatigue score, levels of immunoglobulin M （IgM） and IgG, natural killer （NK） cell activity and QOL score （P〈O.05）. After the 22-month follow-up, there were still significant between-group differences in fatigue score, physical health, psychological, social relationships and overall perception of QOL and overall perception of health （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Mild-warm moxibustion can markedly improve the fatigue, immune state and QOL in sub-health population.

Therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion for adjuvant treatment of depression in Parkinson disease

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion for adjuvant treatment of depression in Parkinson disease and explore its mechanism.Methods:A total of 80 patients with Parkinson disease coupled with depression were randomized into an observation group and a control group,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets and paroxetine tablets,while the observation group was treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion on the basis of the medications in the control group.The treatment course was 2 months.The Hamilton depression scale-17(HAMD-17),unified Parkinson's disease rating scale(UPDRS)and Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire-39(PDQ-39)were scored before and after the treatment,and the efficacy was evaluated after treatment.Levels of patients'serum dopamine(DA),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)were detected before and after the treatment.Results:After treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).The HAMD-17 scores in the two groups decreased significantly after treatment(both P<0.05),and the score in the observation group was obviously lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The component scores and total scores of UPDRS in both groups decreased significantly(all P<0.05),and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05).The score of PDQ-39 in the observation group decreased significantly(P<0.05),and was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the serum DA and 5-HT levels in the observation group increased significantly(both P<0.05)and the TNF-αand IL-6 levels decreased significantly(both P<0.05),which were statistically different from those in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Heat-sensitive moxibustion has certain auxiliary effect in treating depression in Parkinson disease,significantly improving clinical symptoms and the quality of life,which may be related to the up-regulation of DA and 5-HT levels and down-regulation of TNF-αand IL-6 levels.

Therapeutic Efficacy Observation on Acupuncture for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for post- menopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). Methods: A total of 64 PMOP cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. Acupuncture was employed in the observation group, versus oral Osteoform capsule in the control group. After 3-month treatment, the Bone Density (BD) and Estradiol (E 2 ) were measured respectively before and after treatment, followed by statistical analysis on clinical efficacies in the two groups. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 81.3%, showing a statistical difference compared with the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the BD measurements in all body regions of the observation group were significantly elevated (P<0.05), showing a statistical difference compared with the control group (P<0.05). Also, the E 2 levels in both groups were significantly increased (P<0.01), showing no between-group statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture has exact efficacy for PMOP and is therefore effective for the prevention and treatment of PMOP.

Therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion for vascular dementia

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion for vascular dementia and explore its mechanism.Methods:A total of 70 patients with vascular dementia were randomized into an observation group and a control group,with 35 cases in each group.The control group was treated with piracetam,and the observation group was treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion on the basis of the treatment of the control group.The treatment lasted for 8 weeks.Before and after the treatment,the mini-mental state examination(MMSE),activity of daily living(ADL)and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptom scores were assessed,and the levels of acetyl choline(Ach)and homocysteine(Hcy)were measured.The efficacy was evaluated after treatment.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the MMSE and ADL scores in the observation group decreased significantly,and were lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05);the TCM symptom score of the observation group decreased significantly(P<0.05),while that of the control group had no significant change(P>0.05);the plasma Ach level in the observation group increased significantly(P<0.05),and the Hcy level decreased significantly(P<0.05),which were statistically different from those in the control group(both P<0.05).Conclusion:Heat-sensitive moxibustion plus piracetam is effective in treating vascular dementia.It can significantly improve dementia symptoms and ADL,which may be related to the correction of plasma Ach and Hcy levels.

Randomized controlled trial on chronic functional constipation treated with grain-shaped moxibustion and acupuncture

Objective To compare the differences of therapeutic effects of chronic functional constipation treated with the combined therapy of moxibustion and acupuncture and simple acupuncture. Methods One hundred cases of constipation were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group and a simple acupuncture group with 50 cases for each group. Two groups of acupoints were adopted every other day alternatively for both groups. Point group 1： Tiansha （天枢ST 25）, Daheng （大横 SP 15）, Qihai （气海 CV 6）, Guanyuan （关元 CV 4）, Ztisanli （足三里 ST 36）, Shangjhxu （上巨虚 ST 37） and Sanyinjiao （三阴交 SP 6）. Point group 2： Zhsngliao （中髎 BL 33）, Xiatliao （下髎 BL 34）, Dachangsha （大肠俞 BL 25）, Shenshu （肾俞 BL 23） and Pisha （脾俞 BL 20）. Acupuncture was the only therapy adopted for acupuncture group on all the above mentioned points. While, for acupuncture-moxibustion group, moxibustion with grain-shaped moxa cones was applied on Qihai （所海 CV 6）, Zusatnli （足三里 ST 36）, Datchangshu （大肠俞 BL 25） and Pishu （脾俞 BL 20）, and acupuncture was applied on the rest points. Clinical therapeutic effect, clinical score of constipation, quality of life and score of psychological symptoms were observed before and after the treatment. Results The total effective rate in acupuncture-moxihustion group was 74.0%（37/50）, which was superior to that （52.0%, 26/50） in acupuncture group （P〈0.05）. The clinical scores of constipation, quality of life and scores of psychological symptoms of both groups improved after the treatment. For clinical scores of constipation, degree of difficulty in bowel movement, duration of defecation, abdominal pain, difficulty in exsufflation, incomplete sensation after defecation, obstruction sense of anus, purgative prescription dependence, score of life quality and psychological symptoms of acupuneture-moxibustion group were all better than those of simple acupuncture group （P〈0.05, P〈0.01）. Conclusion The combined therapy of both moxibustion with grain-shaped moxa cones and acupuncture is safe and effective in treatment of chronic functional constipation, and the effect is superior to simple therapy of acupuncture.

Effect of moxibustion at Shenshu(BL 23) on the ethology,corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor in aging rats

Objective：To observe the effect of moxibustion on learning and memory abilities,corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor（GR） in subacute aging rats.Methods：Twenty four Sprague-Dawley（SD） rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group and a moxibustion group,8 rats in each group.Rats in the model group and the moxibustion group were subcutaneously injected with 25% D-galactose [125 mg/（kg·bw）] for 40 d continuous;rats in the normal group were injected with saline at the same position for 40 d continuous.Rats in the moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion at bilateral Shenshu（BL 23） at the same time of modeling;rats in the normal group and the model group were only identically grabbed without moxibustion for 40 d.The learning and memory abilities of rats were observed using the Morris water maze at the end of the experiment.Abdominal aorta blood and thymus were collected after water maze experiment.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect serum corticosterone level,and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of thymus GR.Results：Compared with the normal group,rats in the model group showed that a significantly longer escape latency time（P〈0.01） on the third and the fourth days;number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly reduced（P〈0.01）;activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly decreased（P〈0.05）;serum corticosterone levels increased（P〈0.01）;thymus GR expression decreased（P〈0.05）.Compared with the model group,rats in the moxibustion group showed that the escape latency times were significantly shorter on the third,the fourth and the fifth days（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）;number of times crossing the platform in 70 s significantly increased（P〈0.05）;activity times in the fourth quadrant significantly increased（P〈0.05）;serum corticosterone levels decreased（P〈0.05）;thymus GR expression increased（P〈0.05）.Conclusion：Moxibustion could improve the learning and memory abilities of subacute aging rats,down-regulate serum corticosterone levels,and increase thymus GR content.

TCM comprehensive external therapy for acne oriented by damp-heat constitution

Acne is a kind of common skin disease in modern young people. Damp-heat constitution is the pathological basis of acne. Influenced by external factors, damp-heat constitution can lead to acne in the three pattern types, including lung meridian wind-heat, spleen and stomach damp-heat and phlegm stasis congestion and stagnation. Therefore, according to the thought of traditional Chinese medicine, the only way to completely solve the problem of recurrent acne is to correct the damp-heat constitution. TCM external therapy has always been the common therapy for acne, but the specific application scheme of the therapy has not been systematically summarized. In this paper, the relationship between damp-heat constitution and acne, and the design of TCM external therapy for acne on the face oriented by damp-heat constitution will be systematically discussed on the basis of long-term clinical practice and theory summary.

Curative effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on insomnia: a randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on insomnia and explore its mechanism. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into an experiment group and a control group. Sixty patients in the experiment group were treated once a day with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmai (BL 62), and Zhaohai (KI 6) and with moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1). Sixty patients in the control group were acupunctured once a day at Shenmen (HT 7), Neiguan (PC 6), and Sanyinjiao (SP 6).The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to compare sleep improvement between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 87.7% in the experiment group and 76.3% in the control group. The PSQI scores and the total score were lower after treatment than before treatment in bothgroups. However, the reduction in the experiment group was greater than that in the control group in sleeping quality, time to fall asleep, sleeping disorder, and daytime function (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmai (BL 62), and Zhaohai (KI 6) significantly improved insomnia symptoms in the experiment group compared with the control group.

Influence of constitution differences among races on application of acupuncture therapy

Based on the constitution differences among races, the influence of the different constitutions on TCM therapies is approached, raising the differences of different races in tolerance and adaptability to acupuncture, and different treatment principles of acupuncture therapy for different races, and each one case of the black race, the white race and the yellow race recorded in practicing medicine in Britain is taken for discussion. It is expected to be beneficial to the researches on TCM constitutional theories of races and the clinical application.

Effect of moxibustion on the expression levels of proteins of neuron and neuropeptide in the intestinal tract of rats with Crohn's disease

Objective To explore the regulating effect of moxibustion on the enteric nervous system of rats with Crohn＇s disease. Methods Ten SD rats were selected randomly from 40 rats as normal control（group A）, and the other 30 rats were established into Crohn＇s disease rat models by adopting clysis method with TNBS. On the basis of modeling successfully, the model rats were randomly divided into model group（group B）, herbs-partitioned moxibustion group（group C） and mild moxibustion group（group D） with 8 rats in each group（4 rats were dead during modeling. After modeling, 2 rats were selected from group A, and 2 rats were selected from models for determination,at last, 8 rats were included in each group）. In group C and group D, herbs-partitioned moxibustion or mild moxibustion was applied on ＂Tiānshū（天枢 ST 25）＂ bilaterally, and the rats in group A and group B were fixed as in treatment groups. HE stain was conducted, and morphological observation was performed on the colonic tissue of rats; the expression levels of proteins of S-100, SP, NPY and their receptors were observed by adopting immunohistochemical method. Results Compared with group A, the expression levels of proteins of S-100, SP and its receptor NK1R, NPY and its receptors NPY1R and NPY2R in the intestinal tract of rats in model groups increased obviously, and the differences were statistically significant.（P_（S-100）0.01, P_（SP）0.05, P_（NK1R）0.01, P_（NPY）0.05, P_（NPY1R）0.05, P_（NPY2R）0.01）, after treatment with drug-paste interposed moxibustion and mild moxibustion, the levels reduced significantly（P_（S-100）0.05, P_（SP）0.05, P_（NK1R）0.01, P_（NPY）0.05, P_（NPY1R）0.05, P_（NPY2R）0.01）. Conclusion Moxibustion treatment may regulate the expression levels of proteins of S-100, SP, NK1R, NPY, NPY1R and NPY2R through warm stimulation, alleviate inflammatory response of colonic tissue, and repair impaired colonic mucosa, thus achieving the goal of treating Crohn＇s disease.

Short and long-term efficacy of combining Fuzhengliqi mixture with acupuncture in treatment of functional constipation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the short and long-term efficacy of combining Fuzhengliqi mixture (FLM) with acupuncture in treating functional constipation (FC). METHODS: The 560 patients with confirmed diagnosis of FC were randomly assigned to four groups: FLM group, acupuncture group, combined therapy group, and control group. There were 140 cases in each group. The FLM group was administered FLM 60 mL twice a day, while the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at acupoints Tianshu (ST 25), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Zusanli (ST 36), Dachangshu (BL 25), and Zhigou (TE 6) twice a day, the combined therapy group with FLM and acupuncture, and the control group was administered mosapride (5 mg thrice a day) and Macrogol 4000 (10 g twice a day). The treatment lasted 6 weeks. The defecation interval, stool property, constipation symptoms, and accompanying symptomswere recorded, graded, and scored.The gastrointestinal transit time (GITT) and motilin (MTL) level in serum and life quality score were detected at three time points (pre-treatment, at the end of treatment, and 60 weeks post-treatment). Moreover, the adverse reactions were also observed. RESULTS: In the FLM group 2 cases were eliminated for not taking medication strictly according to the research plan and 1 case was lost to follow-up, while 2 cases in the acupuncture group and 2 cases in the combined therapy group were lost to follow-up. Compared with those detected pre-treat- ment, the defecation interval, stool property, consti- pation symptom grade, accompanying symptom grade, and GITT were all decreased markedly at the end of treatment in every group, while the MTL levels in serum and life quality score were increased markedly (P<0.01), the above-mentioned detecting indices were better in the combined therapy group than those in other groups (P<0.05). Compared with the end of treatment, above-mentioned detecting indices all recurred significantly in the FLM group and control group 60 weeks post-treatment (P>0.05), but these indices recurred insignificantly in the acupuncture and combined therapy groups (P>0.05). The short and long-term total effective rates in the combined therapy group were significantly different from those in other groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No serious adverse reactions were found in four groups. CONCLUSION: Both FLM and acupuncture can significantly shorten the defecation interval and GITT, increase MTL levels in serum, decrease the scores of stool property, constipation symptoms, and accompanying symptoms in patients with FC to increase their life quality. The combined therapy is much better in long-term efficacy and the safety is also good, worth spreading in clinical practice.