[Observation on immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only or multi-acupoints in patients with dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the different therapeutic effect between acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only and multi acupoints on dysmenorrhea. METHODS: Thirty eight cases were randomly divided into a single acupoint group and a multi-acupoints group, 19 cases in each group. The single acupoint group was treated by acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only, and the multi-acupoints group by acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8), Ciliao (BL 32). They were all treated from the first day when sudden intense pain occurs, one time each day, for 3 days in each menstrual cycle, the treatment of three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effect and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared and the score of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea by using Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS) were evaluated. RESULTS: The cured rate was 68.4% (13/19) and the effective rate was 31.6% (6/19) in the single acupoint group, being similar to 78.9% (15/19) and 21.1% (4/19) in the multi-acupoints group (P > 0.05). VAS and the scores of general frequency and severity of dysmenorrhea were all significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (all P < 0.001), with no significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Shiqizhui (EX-B 8) only can be as effective as selecting multi-acupoints to cure essential dysmenorrhea.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Shiqizhui (Extra) for primary dysmenorrhea at different time].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the best treatment opportunity of acupuncture at Shiqizhui (Extra) for treating primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: Eighty cases with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly divided into an acupuncture at Shiqizhui (Extra) in the premenstrual period group (group A, n = 20), an acupuncture at Shiqizhui (Extra) when pain occurs group (group B, n = 20) and a blank group (group C, n = 40). Both of acupuncture groups were treated and followed up for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles, respectively. The therapeutic effects were compared by use of the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale (CMSS). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in CMSS between the two acupuncture groups during each course and the follow-up period (all P > 0.05), but the CMSS in the two acupuncture groups were all obviously lower than those in the blank group during the same period (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Shiqizhui (Extra) has certain therapeutic effect on primary dysmenorrhea either in the premenstrual period or when pain occurs and there is no significant difference in acupuncture at different time.

Clinical study on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with preconditioning acupuncture.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of preconditioning acupuncture (PA) on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: Eighty patients suffered from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned on the ratio of 1:1:2 into three groups, 20 in Group A, 20 in Group B, and 40 in Group C. Group A and B were treated with PA and immediate acupuncture (IA), respectively, while Group C received no acupuncture treatment and be taken as a blank control. The treatment was lasted for three menstrual cycles. The therapeutic effects were observed and compared. RESULTS: Comparing the scores of the symptoms in the different groups, the therapeutic effect in different groups showed that the symptom scores in Group A at the second and third cycle of treatment, as well as at the first and third cycle of follow-up, were significantly lower than the scores in Group B, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the duration of symptoms was shorter in Group A than in Group B at the third cycle of treatment and the first and third cycle of follow-up (P<0.05). Symptom scores in Groups A and B in the treatment and follow-up periods were all lowered as compared to those before treatment (P<0.01), and the scores were also lower than those in Group C measured at corresponding times (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of PA, either the short-term or the long-term effect, was superior to that of IA in treating dysmenorrhea.