Objective. To compare the impacts of
electroacupuncture (EA) and mild
moxibustion (Mox) on patients with
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Method. Eighty-two IBS patients were randomly allocated into EA group (n = 41) and Mox group (n = 41) and received corresponding interventions for four weeks. Before and after the treatment, the Visual Analogue Scale for
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (VAS-IBS) was used to evaluate the gastrointestinal symptoms and mental well-being; and the expression of
serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT),
5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R), and
5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in sigmoid mucosal tissue were detected. Results. Both EA and Mox can radically improve the total VAS-IBS score (P < 0.05), and EA was found to be more effective in ameliorating the symptom of
constipation, while Mox was found to be more effective in ameliorating the symptom of diarrhoea. The abnormal expressions of
5-HT, 5-HT3R, and 5-HT4R in both groups were significantly improved after the treatments (all P < 0.05), and EA was superior to Mox in regulating the abnormally decreased 5-HT4R expression in IBS patients with
constipation (P < 0.05). Conclusion.
Electroacupuncture and mild
moxibustion were both effective in improving IBS symptoms and modulate abnormal expressions of
5-HT, 5-HT3R, and 5-HT4R in the colonic tissue.