Moxibustion treatment for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a worldwide disease with high morbidity. The effect of current treatment with Western medicine is not satisfactory. Although moxibustion treatment is widely used for gastrointestinal diseases, randomized controlled trials on the use of this treatment for IBS are limited. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of moxibustion treatment in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). METHODS/DESIGN: A multi-center, randomized, single-blind and placebo-controlled trial is employed. 104 cases will be divided into two groups: (1) a mild-warm moxibustion group in which moxa stick is 3-5 cm away from acupuncture points and the skin temperature is maintained at 43 ± 1 °C; and (2) a placebo moxibustion group in which moxa stick is 8-10 cm away from acupuncture points and the skin temperature is maintained at 37 ± 1 °C. Moxibustion is performed on bilateral ST25 and ST36 in the two groups for 30 min each time, three times a week for 6 weeks. The patients are followed up at the 12th and 18th weeks. Adequate relief is used as a primary outcome measure; IBS symptom severity score, Bristol stool form scale, IBS quality-of-life questionnaire, and hospital anxiety and depression scale are used as secondary outcome measures. DISCUSSION: This study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of moxibustion treatment for IBS-D, which may validate moxibustion as an effective therapy for treating IBS-D. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02421627 (8 April 2015).