Clinical Effect of Yin Yang Regulating Moxibustion on Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of Yin Yang regulating moxibustion on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome（IBS-D） and explore its therapeutic mechanism. Methods: Sixty patients with diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome (December 2022 to December 2023) were divided randomly and averagely into a control group and an observation group using a random number table method. The control group was given a trimebutine maleate capsule, while the observation group was given Yin Yang regulating moxibustion in addition to oral trimebutine maleate capsules. The treatment course was 4 weeks. Observation or detection indicators: Irritable Bowel Syndrome Severity Score (IBS-SSS), gut microbiota structure and diversity, brain gut peptide indicators (5-HT, SP, NPY), safety before and after treatment in both groups of patients. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the symptom severity score, gut microbiota structure and diversity, and brain gut peptide levels between the two groups before treatment (p > 0.05). After treatment, the symptom severity scores of both groups of patients were lower than before treatment, and the treatment group had lower scores than the control group, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). After treatment, the Simpson index of the treatment group was lower than before treatment, and the Shannon index was higher than before treatment, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). The Simpson index of the control group was lower than before treatment, and the Shannon index was higher than before treatment, with no statistical significance (p > 0.05). Inter-group comparison showed that the Simpson index of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group, and the Shannon index was higher than that of the control group after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant. After treatment, the serum levels of 5-TH and SP in both groups were lower than before treatment, and the treatment group was lower than the control group, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). The serum NPY levels were higher than before treatment, and the treatment group was higher than the control group, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). During the treatment process, neither group of patients experienced skin allergies or serious adverse reactions related to the treatment. Conclusion: Yin-Yang regulating moxibustion is safe and effective in treating diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, and is worthy of clinical promotion. Its therapeutic mechanism may be related to its regulation of brain-gut peptide levels and improvement of intestinal microbiota.