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NCT Number: NCT07372326

A Study on the Effect of Electronic Moxibustion Based on Ziwu Liuzhu in Treating Constipation in Stroke Patients

This study aims to explore the application effect of Ziwu Liuzhu electronic moxibustion combined with auricular points on constipation in stroke patients through clinical controlled trials, as well as the advantages over using electronic moxibustion alone.

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Key information

Age range

30 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

4th Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University

Jinhua, Zhejiang, 322000, China

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

ruirui Fan

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86 13858072032

About this study

This study aims to explore the application effect of Ziwu Liuzhu electronic moxibustion combined with auricular points on constipation in stroke patients through clinical controlled trials, as well as the advantages over using electronic moxibustion alone. It provides new explorations, new ideas and new methods for the effective clinical care of constipation in stroke patients, and offers theoretical and guiding basis for the application and promotion of electronic moxibustion.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Meets the diagnostic criteria of both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, and has not undergone surgery or other internal medical treatments, with the occurrence of constipation;
  • The condition is stable, without severe clinical complications;
  • Can accept moxibustion treatment, and the local skin is undamaged;
  • Those who agree to participate in this study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

  • Digestive tract disorders, such as intestinal polyps, tuberculosis, and tumors. Irritable bowel syndrome or constipation secondary to organic diseases (such as endocrine, metabolic or post-operative diseases); abdominal aneurysm, hepatosplenomegaly, or severe cardiovascular, liver, kidney or mental disorders and coagulation disorders.
  • The patient had constipation before the stroke.
  • The patient withdrew from the study due to other reasons during the course of the study.

Dropout criteria and termination criteria:

  • Patients who have not received the prescribed treatment and whose therapeutic effect cannot be determined;
  • Patients who experience serious adverse events or complications and are not suitable to continue the treatment and thus the trial is terminated;
  • Patients with poor compliance, who withdraw from the treatment during the course of the trial, or who use treatment methods prohibited by this protocol concurrently, or who change the treatment method halfway on their own.

Note: For any patient meeting any of the above criteria 1, they will be handled as a dropout case.

Treatment and study plan

Electronic moxibustion instrument

Device

The intervention group B added electronic moxibustion to the treatment of group A: Assist the patient to assume the supine position, aim at the moxibustion areas around the navel (Shenque, Guanyuan, Qihai, Xiaowan, Tianqiu), and use electronic moxibustion therapy (Production License No. 20180137 of Su Food and Drug Administration). The distance from the skin is 5 to 10 cm, and each area is moxibustion for 30 minutes. During the moxibustion process, ask the patient if there is any discomfort, observe the patient's skin condition, and assist the patient to put on clothes and take a comfortable lying position after the treatment.

An electronic moxibustion device under the guidance of the Yuziuyouluo theory

Device

The intervention group C patients were given electronic moxibustion therapy based on the theory of Ziwen Liuzhun (midnight to dawn) under the premise of the control group B. According to the theory of Ziwen Liuzhun, the hour of Ba (05:00 - 07:00) is the time when the large intestine meridian is in charge, and at this time, the blood and qi of the large intestine are abundant, which is most conducive to excretion. The hour of Chen (07:00 - 09:00) is the time when the stomach meridian is in charge, and at this time, the qi of the stomach meridian is vigorous, which is most conducive to regulating the connection between the stomach and the spleen. Based on the specific conditions of each patient, moxibustion treatment was given at the corresponding hour. The specific moxibustion therapy was the same as that of the control group. The intervention lasted for 2 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. The first time of defecation

    Time frame: The timing of the intervention starts from the moment it begins until the first successful defecation occurs, and is recorded in hours (h).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Clinical Symptom Score Scale (CCS)

    Time frame: An assessment was conducted before the experimental intervention, on the 7th day of the intervention, and after the completion of the intervention.

    CCSis mainly used to assess the severity of constipation and has good reliability and validity. It is widely used in clinical trial evaluations. The items involved all match the items of the Rome IV standard. Except for one item with a score range of 0-7, the score range of all other items is 0-4. The higher the total score, the more severe the constipation.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

ruirui Fan

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86 13858072032

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 28, 2026
Registry last updated
Jan 28, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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