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Acupuncture and moxibustion for postoperative gastrointestinal disorders: An efficacy analysis
Yu-Chun Zhao, Jun-Ning Che, Yong-Qi Zhang, Ning-Ning Luo, Dong-Xia Wang, Zi-Jian Wang, Wen-Zhi Zhang, Juan Ma, Xin-Ping Cao, Xin Wen
Yu-Chun Zhao, Jun-Ning Che, Yong-Qi Zhang, Ning-Ning Luo, Wen-Zhi Zhang, Juan Ma, College of Acupuncture and Massage, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Dong-Xia Wang, Department of Peripheral Vascular Intervention, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Zi-Jian Wang, Department of Acupuncture, Jiuquan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Jiuquan 735000, Gansu Province, China
Xin-Ping Cao, Department of Second Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangye Second People’s Hospital, Zhangye 734000, Gansu Province, China
Xin Wen, Department of Zheng’s Acupuncture, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
Co-first authors: Yu-Chun Zhao and Jun-Ning Che.
Co-corresponding authors: Xin-Ping Cao and Xin Wen.
Author contributions: Zhao YC and Che JN wrote the paper; Zhao YC, Che JN, Cao XP, and Wen X designed the research; Zhang YQ, Luo NN, Wang DX, Wang ZJ, Zhang WZ, and Ma J performed the research; Zhao YC and Che JN analyzed the data. All authors made substantial intellectual contributions to this paper.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, No.[2022]135.
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Xin Wen, Chief Physician, Department of Zheng’s Acupuncture, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, No. 732 Jiayuguan West Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China.
13519318714@163.com
Received: November 21, 2025
Revised: December 31, 2025
Accepted: February 3, 2026
Published online: April 27, 2026
Processing time: 153 Days and 21.8 Hours
BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) frequently develop after abdominal surgery and impede postoperative recovery and quality-of-life improvement.
AIM
To determine whether acupuncture and moxibustion (Acu-Mox) can improve clinical outcomes in patients with postabdominal surgery GID.
METHODS
We selected 105 patients with GID following abdominal procedures between December 2022 and December 2024. Comparative analyses were conducted on 50 patients in the control group receiving conventional Western medical treatment and 55 cases in the research group who additionally received Acu-Mox, with endpoints including overall effectiveness, the Intake, Feeling Nauseated, Emesis, Physical Exam, and Duration of Symptoms (I-FEED) scale score and its normalization time, gastrointestinal function recovery (bowel sound recovery, exhaust/defecation time, first liquid diet intake time), serum inflammatory indicators (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), and complications (ileus, constipation, bloating, abdominal pain).
RESULTS
The research group showed a markedly higher total effective treatment rate than the controls. This group also exhibited a notable reduction in posttreatment I-FEED scores, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α that were statistically lower vs the control group, together with shorter time to I-FEED score normalization, bowel sound recovery, exhaust/defecation, and the first postoperative liquid diet, as well as an obviously lower overall complication rate.
CONCLUSION
Acu-Mox for post-abdominal surgery GID is more effective than traditional Western medicine, deserving promotion in clinical practice.
Core Tip: In this study, 105 postabdominal surgery patients with gastrointestinal disorders were selected strictly according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Comparative analysis assessed the clinical effects of routine western medicine treatment vs combined western medicine treatment and acupuncture–moxibustion. Multidimensional evaluation results showed higher curative effects of Western medicine + acupuncture–moxibustion therapy on gastrointestinal disorder patients after abdominal surgery. Such therapy alleviates clinical symptoms, promotes postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery, inhibits serum inflammation, and ensures higher clinical safety. The results can provide a better treatment option for these patients.
