Acupuncture to treat heartburn
“Adding acupuncture is more effective than doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose,” according to researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson.
First, the details.
- 30 patients with classic heartburn symptoms who continued to be symptomatic on standard-dose proton pump inhibitors were enrolled into the study.
- Examples of proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Losec, Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex)
- Each patient received upper endoscopy while on proton pump inhibitors once daily.
- They were then randomly assigned to adding acupuncture to their proton pump inhibitor or doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose over 4 weeks.
- An expert delivered acupuncture twice a week.
And, the results.
- The acupuncture + proton pump inhibitor group had a significant decrease in the average scores for daytime heartburn, nighttime heartburn, and acid regurgitation at the end of treatment compared to baseline.
- The double-dose proton pump inhibitor group had no change in response.
- The general health score was only significantly improved in the acupuncture + proton pump inhibitor group.
The bottom line?
These findings are supported by an earlier study that showed alterations in gastric myoelectrical activity with acupressure.
4/2/08 20:07 JR