Acupuncture for the treatment of constipation in Parkinson's disease: a case report.

Abstract

Constipation is a common and bothersome non-motor symptom across all stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and can occur in up to 80% of patients.1 It has a negative impact on the overall quality of life of PD patients. Fiber, laxatives and prokinetic agents are common medications used to treat constipation. However, due to short-term effects and adverse events such as diarrhea and abdominal pain, approximately half of PD patients are dissatisfied with current treatments. Therefore, an increasing number of PD patients who suffer from constipation are looking for complementary and alternative therapies with potentially fewer side effects and/or superior clinical efficacy to improve their quality of life. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical technique that dates back more than 2500 years, is widely used to treat a growing range of diseases worldwide.2,3 Here, we present the case of a PD patient who had constipation and was treated with acupuncture. Publication of this case report is in accordance with the guidelines of the Ethics Committee of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (no. 2020KL-72; approval date 12 December 2020), and permission was given by the patient.