Table 1 The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating visceral pain in GI disorders

(Pei et al. 2020)

GV20, GV29, LR3, ST36, SP6, ST25, and ST37

Three times a week for 6 weeks. The needles were manipulated every 10 min, and each session lasted 30 min.

AP (n = 344)

PEG 4000/pinaverium bromide (n = 175)

IBS-C and IBS-D

Multicenter RCT

AP treatment significantly improved total IBS-SSS scores (123.51 vs 94.73, P < 0.01), including the severity of abdominal pain (20.92 ± 25.41 vs 13.43 ± 21.48, P = 0.003) when compared with PEG 4000/pinaverium bromide group. Furthermore, AP treatment improved IBS-QOL total scores (13.35 vs 8.95, P = 0.02).

Yes

(Shen et al. 2022)

ST25, CV12, ST36, ST37, SP4, ST40, LR13, and SP9

Three times a week for 8 weeks. Each session lasted 30 min, and the needles were manipulated every 10 min.

AP (n = 33)

Sham-AP (n = 32)

IBS-D

RCT

Both groups of AP and Sham-AP had reduced IBS-SSS scores, including pain, compared with the baseline. However, there was a significant difference in the IBS-SSS score during the follow-up visit between the groups (169.70 ± 54.11 vs 204.38 ± 52.48, P < 0.05). Moreover, the BSS score also decreased after the treatment (5.00 ± 0.83 vs 5.44 ± 0.72, P < 0.05) and during follow-up (5.06 ± 0.86 vs 5.53 ± 0.84, P < 0.05) in the AP group comparing to the Sham-AP group.

Yes

(Rafiei et al. 2014)

UB17, 23, 25

DU3, SP9, 15, ST25, 36, Ren12, and 4. Kid15

Catgut AP method

AP (n = 20)

Sham-AP (n = 20)

DO (n = 20)

IBS

RCT

Double-blinded

AP treatment decreased abdominal pain when compared with the Sham-AP and DO group (mean score, AP: 3.07, Sham-AP: 4.6, DO: 5.08, P = 0.003). AP treatment also decreased symptoms of depression when compared with the DO group (mean score, AP: 15.9, DO: 21.9, P = 0.002).

Yes

(Lowe et al. 2017)

ST25, ST34, ST36, ST37, UB20 and UB23, LI4, CV6, and CV12.

Treatment was given twice weekly for 4 weeks, and the session lasted 30 min.

AP (n = 43)

Sham-AP (n = 36)

IBS

RCT

This study didn’t observe significant differences between groups in abdominal pain score (51.0 ± 27.1 vs 38.6 ± 17.2, P = 0.70) and in McGill pain score (2.6 ± 0.4 vs 3.5 ± 0.5, P = 0.19), though both groups demonstrated reduction from the baseline. Furthermore, similar results were observed in IBS symptoms score (12.2 ± 1.2 vs 13.9 ± 1.6, P = 0.40) and QOL measures (2.2 ± 0.2 vs 1.9 ± 0.2, P = 0.28).

Yes

(Qi et al. 2022)

Three sessions per week, every other day for 4 weeks, each session lasting 30 min.

SA (n = 30)

NSA (n = 30)

NA (n = 30)

IBS-D

Multicenter RCT

Acupuncture in both SA and NSA groups improved abdominal pain and IBS-SSS scores, although there were no significant differences among the three groups.

Yes

(Zhang et al. 2019a)

CV4, PC6, ST36, SP6, ST25, and ST37.

Three (3) sessions per week, every other day, for 4 weeks, each session lasting 30 min.

AP (n = 31)

Control (n = 30)

IBS-D

RCT

AP treatment significantly decreased IBS-SSS scores, including abdominal pain (100.97 ± 8.55 vs 254.17 ± 11.98, P < 0.05), compared to the control group. AP treatment also improved anxiety (7.06 ± 0.50 vs 9.87 ± 0.51, P < 0.05) and depression (6.29 ± 0.42 vs 10.43 ± 0.49, P < 0.05).

Yes

(Meng 2019)

LR3, ST36, ST37, SP6, ST25, GV20, and GV29.

Five times a week for 4 weeks, and each session lasted for 30 min

AP (n = 35)

Control (n = 35)

IBS-D

RCT

AP treatment decreased the total IBS-SSS score (193.71 ± 52.42 vs 245.14 ± 47.36, P < 0.05), including the degree of abdominal pain (36.00 ± 26.48 vs 48.57 ± 25.80, P < 0.05), frequency of abdominal pain (30.29 ± 27.17 vs 50.29 ± 23.45, P < 0.05), and defecation satisfaction (38.29 ± 29.25 vs 50.86 ± 22.93, P < 0.05) compared to the control group. AP treatment also decreased their depression state (51.17 ± 12.92 vs 60.69 ± 16.26, P < 0.05).

Yes

(Li et al. 2015)

ST36, PC6, and CV12

Once a day for 7 days, each session lasted for 20–30 min

AP (n = 11)

Sham-AP (n = 10)

GP

Single-blind, crossover trial

Although both groups had reduced GSCI and GVAS scores from the baseline, the AP group showed significant differences in both GSCI (− 8.0 ± 3.4 vs − 2.4 ± 3.7, P < 0.01) and GVAS (− 58.1 ± 31.2 vs − 12.9 ± 29.9, P < 0.01) scores when compared with the sham group.

Yes

(Jin et al. 2015)

ST36, KI3, GB4, PC6, and HT7

Three sessions per week, every other day, for 4 weeks

Treatment (n = 30)

Control (n = 30)

FD

RCT

DSS scores, including epigastric pain, were reduced in both groups; however, the treatment group exhibited more effect than the control group (0.48 ± 1.03 vs 6.32 ± 3.41, P < 0.0001). AP treatment has better outcomes for improving mental status [(SDS score (45.60 ± 8.75 vs 54.00 ± 10.80, P < 0.0001)) and SAS score (42.30 ± 6.22 vs 52.20 ± 7.98, P < 0.0001))] and QOL [SF-36 score (70.0 ± 12.54 vs 56.00 ± 13.42, P < 0.0001)].

Yes

(Lee et al. 2022)

Saam acupuncture

Three sessions per week for 4 weeks, and each session lasted 20 min.

Saam-AP (n = 12)

Usual care (n = 12)

FD

RCT

There was no difference in GIS after the treatment between both groups. However, Saam-AP had a significant reduction in GIS scores at 8-week [(6.30 (3.03, 9.57) vs 9.40 (5.64, 13.16), P = 0.0339] and 12-week [(4.70 (1.26, 8.14) vs 10.80 (5.22, 16.38), P = 0.0113] follow-ups compared to the usual care group. Only Saam-AP group significantly reduced epigastric pain scores at 8-week [(2.10 (1.24, 2.96) vs 0.70 (0.11, 1.29), P = 0.0205] and 12-week follow-ups [[(2.10 (1.24, 2.96) vs 0.60 (0.10, 1.10), P = 0.0091] when compared to the baseline.

Yes

(Xuefen et al. 2020)

Group-A:

CV12, ST36

Group-B:

PC6, ST36

Group-C:

non-acupoints, ST36

 Five sessions per week for 3 weeks, and each session lasted 30 minutes.

Group-A (n = 33)

Group-B (n = 33)

Group -C (n = 33)

GP

RCT

All groups demonstrated a significant reduction in GCSI scores. However, Group-A had better outcomes than all groups.

No

(Ko et al. 2016)

LI4, ST36, LR3, SP4, CV12, GB21, SI14, PC6, EX-HN5, and ST34

Twice weekly for 4 weeks

AT (n = 37)

Control (n = 39)

FD

RCT

Acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the total NDI score (57.1 ± 30.2 43.4 ± 33.1, P = 0.03) compared to the control group. Moreover, AP treatment significantly reduced upper abdominal pain (4.3 ± 3.6 vs 3.2 ± 3.6, P < 0.05) and discomfort in the upper abdomen (6.8 ± 3.4 4.7 ± 3.8, P < 0.05) from the baseline; however, there was a significant difference between groups in discomfort in the upper abdomen (6.4 ± 3.2 4.7 ± 3.8, P = 0.01).

Yes

(Park et al. 2009)

CV12, LI4, LR3, ST36, PC6, and SP4.

Three times per week for 2 weeks

After insertion, needles were rotated 90° for 3 times and retained for 15 min.

AP (n = 38)

Sham-AP (n = 38)

FD

RCT

In both cases, NDI scores, including abdominal pain, reduced from the baseline (from 59.59 ± 22.03 to 25.44 ± 17.96, P < 0.001 in the AP group, and from 55.71 ± 22.94 to 26.38 ± 15.69, P < 0.001 in the Sham-AP group). However, no significant differences were observed in the average NDI scores between groups (34.15 ± 24.74 vs 29.32 ± 20.76, P = 0.387).

Yes