Electroacupuncture at Tongbian (NP82) and Daheng (SP15) for bowel motility in healthy volunteers
Investigation of Bowel Motility Changes Following Electroacupuncture at NP82 (Tongbian) and SP15 (Daheng) Acupoint Pair in Healthy Volunteers
We will test if 20 minutes of electroacupuncture at Tongbian (NP82) and Daheng (SP15) increases bowel activity in healthy adults by recording bowel sounds with a digital stethoscope.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh) |
| Trial ID | NCT07496697 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a before-and-after physiological study in 30 healthy volunteers using electroacupuncture at two specific acupoints (NP82 and SP15). Participants undergo a 30-minute baseline bowel-sound recording, 20 minutes of electroacupuncture with stimulation set at a 10 Hz dense-disperse wave and tolerance-adjusted intensity, and a 30-minute post-intervention recording. A 3M™ Littmann® CORE digital stethoscope will capture amplified bowel sounds for computerized analysis to quantify changes in motility. The design aims to provide objective, quantitative data on immediate changes in bowel activity following stimulation of these points.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy adults aged 18 or older without constipation or recent gastrointestinal symptoms and not taking medications that affect bowel motility are eligible.
Not a fit: People with active gastrointestinal disorders, chronic constipation, recent use of bowel-altering medications, or serious systemic illnesses are unlikely to benefit from participating or from these specific results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a non-drug way to stimulate bowel motility and help guide treatments for constipation, including in patients with paralysis-related bowel dysfunction.
How similar studies have performed: Previous acupuncture studies on gut motility have produced mixed results; the NP82 point is novel and objective, digital-stethoscope-based evidence for it is currently limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy volunteers aged 18 years and older. * No symptoms related to constipation after comprehensive evaluation based on Rome IV criteria. * No gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in stool, constipation, or bloating) in the 4 weeks prior to study participation. * No use of medications that promote or inhibit bowel motility in the 4 weeks prior to participation (including prokinetics, laxatives, antispasmodics, or opioids). * Fasting for at least 4 hours before the study session. * No mental or intellectual disorders; capable of understanding the acupuncture and assessment procedures. * Willingness to participate and signed informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: * Participants with severe medical conditions (heart, brain, liver, kidney, hematological system, infectious diseases, cancer, or psychiatric disorders). * Metabolic or functional disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), thyroid dysfunction, or glucose/lipid metabolism disorders. * Use of bowel motility-altering medications within the 4 weeks prior to participation. * Participation in other clinical trials within the last 2 months. * Received acupuncture treatment within the last month. * Skin ulcers, abscesses, or infections at the acupuncture sites. * Known metal allergy or severe needle phobia.
Where this trial is running
Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh
- Faculty of Traditional Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City — Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Minh Quan Le Hoang, MSc, MD — University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
- Study coordinator: Minh Quan Le Hoang, MSc, MD
- Email: lhminhquan@ump.edu.vn
- Phone: +84792112077
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.