Acupuncture has shown to have significant improvement in the reduction of the proteins which indicate bowel inflammation in persons with Crohn’s disease.

“51 patients with Crohn’s disease were randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups received ten treatments over a four week period. The TCM group received needles at Pishu BL-20, Zhongwan REN-12, Zusanli ST-36 or Shangjuxu ST-37 and Tianshu ST-25, three points based on pattern differentiation (Spleen qi deficiency, damp-heat, Kidney deficiency or Liver insulting the Spleen), plus moxibustion where appropriate. Needles were manipulated as long as deqi was present. The control group received shallow sham acupuncture at non-acupuncture points without obtaining deqi.

A survey showed that the sham group believed they were receiving real acupuncture to almost the same degree as in the treatment group. Outcome was measured by the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index which rates eight symptoms and signs such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, well-being and red blood cell count. The real acupuncture group showed a significantly greater benefit which persisted when all patients were reassessed after 16 weeks. At this stage the treatment group showed a significant improvement in al-acid glycoprotein, a marker of bowel inflammation

(Presented at the ARRC Symposium, October 7th 2001).”
( http://www.jcm.co.uk/research-archive/article/acupuncture-for-crohns-disease-216/viewed 6.6.11 )