Can needles ease tummy troubles? new study tests electro-acupuncture for IBS-C

This completed pilot study tested whether electro-acupuncture can improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Sixty IBS-C patients were randomly assigned to receive either real electro-acupuncture or a sham (fake) version. The study also collected blood, urine, and stool samples to explore how acupuncture might affect gut bacteria. The goal was to see if real acupuncture leads to better pain relief and more regular bowel movements compared to the sham treatment.