A traditional Japanese bamboo foot stimulator found to have therapeutic efficacy for cases of constipation and urinary tract infection

A study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine has found that the traditional Japanese bamboo foot stimulator called ao-dake-humi can significantly alleviate constipation, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and hypersensitivity to cold (HC).

• A team of researchers gathered 24 participants with constipation, LUTS, and HC to take part in the study. Among the group, 21 had LUTS, 11 had constipation, and 17 had HC.
• Participants were given half-piped shaped bamboos which they took home.
•  In the course of 28 days, the method of ao-dake-humi was used two times a day – once in the morning and once in the evening.
• The therapy was be done for two minutes. Participants feeling any pain while doing ao-dake-humi reduced the frequency to once a day.
• For points of comparison and proof of efficacy, factors such as international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality-of-life (QoL), and overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) were measured before and after the experiment.
• Meanwhile, a frequency-volume chart (FVC) was used on participants with LUTS for three days. As for constipation and HC patients, a visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the objective efficacy of the method.
• The results showed a significant decrease in the IPSS, particularly in the storage-subscore, QoL scores, and OABSS following the 28-day experiment. Furthermore, the use of ao-dake-humi increased maximal bladder capacity which helps in reducing urinary frequency. On the other hand, both constipation and HC were also significantly relieved after the sessions of ao-dake-humi.

In conclusion, the traditional Japanese practice ao-dake-humi can help alleviate the symptoms of LUTS, constipation, and HC.

Read the full text at this link.

Journal Reference:

Minagawa T, Saitou T, Suzuki T, Domen T, Yokoyama H, Ishikawa M, Hirakata S, Nagai T, Nakazawa M, Ogawa T, et al. IMPACT OF AO-DAKE-HUMI, JAPANESE TRADITIONAL BAMBOO FOOT STIMULATOR, ON LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS, CONSTIPATION AND HYPERSENSITIVITY TO COLD: A SINGLE-ARM PROSPECTIVE PILOT STUDY. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016;16(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1494-1