Objective: Modern medicine has not yet completely cleared the etiology of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Purpose of this study is to observe the clinical results of the treatment of ulcerative colitis with a combined procedure based on tuina, moxibustion and auricular therapy.

Methods: In the period 1994-1998, at the Paracelso Clinic in Rome, 15 cases (8 women and 7 men, aged 32-65 years) affected by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, were successfully treated. According to TCM, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can be differentiated into 3 syndromes: (l) Deficiency of the Spleen; (2) Deficiency of the Kidney; (3) Stagnation of the Liver qi attacking the Spleen. All patients were treated with tuina (pulling-grasping massage on the back and other techniques) and with the moxa-box therapy on specific acupoints of the back and abdomen. This treatment, common to the above 3 syndromes, was integrated with the Chinese massage on acupoints selected according to the specific syndrome. Between one session and the next one, Varcaria seeds were applied on the acupoints of the ear (Large Intestine, Rectum, Ear-Shenmen, etc.) and the patients provided to stimulate them at home.

Results: Complete recovery in 6 cases (40), marked improvement in 4 cases (26.6), improvement in 2 cases (l 3.3); no evident result in 2 cases (l 3.3), 1 case stopped therapy halfway. Total effective rate: 80.

Conclusion: The above method is safe, effective, and simple to be applied and with no side-effects, so the Authors suggest to spread it in the clinical practice.