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Independent clinical investigations concur that acupuncture and herbs are effective for the treatment of cirrhosis with ascites. One investigation used an integrated treatment protocol consisting of acupuncture, infrared radiation, dietetics, and herbal medicine to achieve positive patient outcomes for patients with end-stage cirrhosis with ascites. The research indicates that integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) protocols into the hospital setting benefits end-stage cirrhosis patients.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine are effective for the treatment of end-stage liver cirrhosis and ascites. Researchers from Nanyang City First People’s Hospital (Henan Province, China) tested a TCM protocol using acupuncture, far infrared, herbal intravenous injections, herbal soba noodle soup, and an oral herbal decoction. The combination therapy effectively reduced or eliminated ascites, improved urine volume and appetite, and normalized liver and kidney function.
A total of 95% of patients in the clinical trial achieved optimal positive patient outcomes meeting the following parameters: ascites completely resolved, normal appetite, normal urine color and volume, normal liver and kidney function. The remaining 5% demonstrated: significant reductions in ascites, appetite improvements, reductions of nausea and vomiting, improved urine volume and color, improvements in liver and kidney function. The researchers note that the TCM protocol reduced liver fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis while simultaneously promoting the regeneration of liver cells.
A TDP heat lamp (far infrared) was used and the acupuncture points were stimulated with a manual tonification techniques. Acupuncture was applied once per day, needles were manually stimulated every ten minutes, and total needle retention time was thirty minutes per acupuncture session
The research was conducted at Nanyang City First People’s Hospital. The results indicate that the acupuncture plus herbal medicine protocol is an effective treatment for end-stage liver cirrhosis with ascites. The results were published in the Zhejiang Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Kang et al. had similar findings concluding that acupuncture and herbs are effective for the treatment of liver cirrhosis and hepatosplenomegaly. In addition, Du et al. conducted independent research and concluded that acupuncture with moxibustion is effective for the treatment of cirrhosis with ascites.
Excerpt from:
Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Alleviate Cirrhosis and Ascites