[Acupuncture Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea by Needling Acupoints of the Spleen Meridian with Positive Reactions：A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial].

OBJECTIVE

To observe whether acupuncture of the tender-points of the Spleen Meridian can achieve a better therapeutic effect for primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients, so as to verify the importance of examining meridian-acupoint reactions in clinical practice.

METHODS

A total of 72 PD patients were randomly assigned to tender-point group (observation group) and regular acupoint group (control group, ＝36 in each). For patients of the observation group, the tender-points around San-yinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) were needled, and for those of the control group, the regular SP 6, SP 8 and SP 9 were needled. After "", the filiform needles were manipulated with lifting-thrusting reducing technique for about 30 s, repeated once again every 10 min during 30 min's needle retention, and the treatment was conducted once daily for 3 days during every menstrual cycle, continuously for 3 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was rated for assessing the pain severity, and the COX menstrual symptom scale (CMSS) consists of 17 items and 5 grades/item (0－4 points) according to the severity of discomfort was rated before and after the treatment.

RESULTS

After the treatment, the VAS and CMSS scores on the 1 days of the 1, 2 and 3 menstrual cycles were significantly decreased in both control and observation groups in comparison with their own individual pre-acupuncture (<0.05), suggesting a marked relief of both pain and discomforts after the treatment, and the therapeutic effect of the tender-point needling was significantly superior to that of the regular acupoint needling in relieving pain in the 2 and 3 menstrual cycles. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the discomfort severity (>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture stimulation of the tender points around the SP 6, SP 8 and SP 9 has a stronger analgesic effect relevant to needling the regular acupoints in PD patients.