EA was superior to pharmacological treatment when the treatment duration lasted for three menstrual cycles , evidence d by significantly higher curative rate .
No statistically significant differences between EA at SP6 and control groups were found regarding the VRS , RSS-COX1 , and RSS-COX2 .
The findings of our study suggested that EA can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for PD .
Electroacupuncture ( EA ) is considered to be a promising alternative therapy to relieve the menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) , but the conclusion is controversial .
Here , we conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis specifically to evaluate the clinical efficacy from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) on the use of EA in patients with PD .
Immediate effect of acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Xuanzhong (GB39) on uterine arterial blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea.
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to compare immediate effect of acupuncture at SP6 on uterine arterial blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea with that of GB39 . DESIGN This was a prospect i ve , r and omized clinical trial . SETTING Sixty-six ( 66 ) patients with primary dysmenorrhea from the Affiliated Hospital of Shangdong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were recruited . INTERVENTIONS The SP6 group ( n = 32 ) was treated with manual acupuncture at bilateral SP6 for 5 minutes after obtaining needling sensation ( de qi ) during the period of menstrual pain , whereas the control group ( n = 34 ) was needled at GB39 of both sides for 5 minutes when they suffered menstrual pain . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Differences in pulsatility index ( PI ) , resistance index ( RI ) , and ratio of systolic peak and diastolic peak ( A/B ) in uterine arteries were the main outcome measures . RESULTS Highly significant reductions were observed in the SP6 treatment group 5 minutes after treatment in menstrual pain scores ( 8.17 ± 1.90 versus 11.20 ± 2.66 ; p < 0.001 ) , values of PI ( 1.75 ± 0.48 versus 2.32 ± 0.70 ; p < 0.001 ) , RI ( 0.72 ± 0.11 versus 0.78 ± 0.07 ; p < 0.001 ) , and A/B ( 4.33 ± 1.37 versus 5.23 ± 1.67 ; p < 0.001 ) . Compared with the GB39 control group , patients in the SP6 treatment group showed significant reductions in 5 minutes after treatment in the changes of menstrual pain scores ( 3.03 ± 2.36 versus 0.00 ± 0.29 ; p < 0.001 ) , values of PI ( 0.57 ± 0.42 versus -0.10 ± 0.58 ; p < 0.001 ) , RI ( 0.06 ± 0.08 versus -0.03 ± 0.15 ; p < 0.01 ) , and A/B ( 0.90 ± 0.87 versus 0.23 ± 1.02 ; p < 0.01 ) . There were no significant changes in menstrual pain scores , values of PI , RI , or A/B before and after treatment in the GB39 control group ( p > 0.05 ) . No adverse events from treatment were reported . CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that needling at SP6 can immediately improve uterine arterial blood flow of patients with primary dysmenorrhea , while GB39 does not have these effects
EA was superior to pharmacological treatment when the treatment duration lasted for three menstrual cycles , evidence d by significantly higher curative rate .
No statistically significant differences between EA at SP6 and control groups were found regarding the VRS , RSS-COX1 , and RSS-COX2 .
The findings of our study suggested that EA can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for PD .
Electroacupuncture ( EA ) is considered to be a promising alternative therapy to relieve the menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) , but the conclusion is controversial .
Here , we conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis specifically to evaluate the clinical efficacy from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) on the use of EA in patients with PD .