[Randomized controlled study on superficial needling for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea]. Acupuncture for the management of primary dysmenorrhea. [Observation on ear point taping and pressing therapy for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea]. Effects of acupressure on menstrual distress in adolescent girls: a comparison between Hegu-Sanyinjiao matched points and Hegu, Zusanli single point. Effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on primary dysmenorrhoea.
To observe clinical therapeutic effect of superficial needling at distal and proximal acupoints on primary dysmenorrhea (PD).
                One hundred and twenty cases of PD were randomly divided into a treatment group (n =60) and a control group (n = 60). The treatment group were treated with superficial needling at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the control group with oral administration of indometacin entric-coater tablets.
                Of the 120 cases, 116 cases completed the investigation. The total effective rate was 93. 3% in the treatment group and 75. 0% in the control group. The comprehensive therapeutic effect and the cured rate in the treatment group were significantly better than that in the control group (P<0. 001), with a more rapid effect and lasting a longer time than the control group.
                Clinical therapeutic effect of superficial needling at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) on primary dysmenorrhea is better than that of oral administration of indometacin entric-coater tablets. The effectiveness of acupuncture in managing the pain of primary dysmenorrhea was investigated in a randomized and controlled prospective clinical study. Forty-three women were followed for one year in one of four groups: the Real Acupuncture group was given appropriate acupuncture and the Placebo Acupuncture group was given random point acupuncture on a weekly basis for three menstrual cycles; the Standard Control group was followed without medical or acupuncture intervention; the Visitation Control group had monthly nonacupuncture visits with the project physician for three cycles. In the Real Acupuncture group, 10 of 11 (90.9%) women showed improvement; in the Placebo Acupuncture group, 4 of 11 (36.4%); in the Standard Control group, 2 of 11 (18.2%); and in the Visitation Control group 1 of 10 (10%). There was a 41% reduction of analgesic medication used by the women in the Real Acupuncture group after their treatment series, and no change or increased use of medication seen in the other groups. To observe therapeutic effect and prognosis of ear point taping and pressing therapy for primary dysmenorrhea.
                One hundred and fourteen cases were randomly divided into an ear taping and pressing group of 60 cases and a western medication group of 54 cases. The ear taping and pressing group were treated by ear point taping and pressing at Shenmen, Zigong (uterus), Neifenmi (endorine), Pizhixia (subcortex), Jiaogan (sympathesis) and Shen (kidney), which were taped and pressed by a adhesive plaster with Vaccaria seeds. The western medication group were treated with oral administration of Indomeixin enteric tablets. The therapeutic effects were assessed after treatment of 3 menstrual cycles.
                The total effective rate was 91.7% in the ear taping and pressing group and 77.8% in the western medication group with a significant difference between the two group (P < 0.05); and the long-term therapeutic effect in the ear taping and pressing group was better than that in the western medication group.
                Ear point taping and pressing therapy has significant therapeutic effect on primary dysmenorrhea. To examine a comparison between Hegu and Sanyinjiao matched points and Hegu, Zusanli single point on adolescent girls' menstrual distress, pain and anxiety perception.
                Primary dysmenorrhoea is a major cause of temporary disability, with a prevalence ranging from 60-93%, depending upon the population and study. No one has yet compared the effects of single point and multiple point acupressures. Design. A single blind randomised experimental study was used.
                Adolescents (n = 134) randomly assigned to experimental groups Zusanli (n = 30), Hegu (n = 33) and Hegu-Sanyinjiao Matched Points (n = 36) received acupressure intervention protocol for 20 minutes, while the control group (n = 35) did not receive any acupressure intervention. Four instruments were used to collect data: (1) the Visual Analog Scale for Pain; (2) the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire Short Form; (3) the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and (4) the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety.
                During the six-month follow-up, acupressure at matched points Hegu and Sanyinjiao reduced the pain, distress and anxiety typical of dysmenorrhoea. Acupressure at single point Hegu was found, effectively, to reduce menstrual pain during the follow-up period, but no significant difference for reducing menstrual distress and anxiety perception was found. Zusanli acupressure had no significant effects of reducing menstrual pain, distress and anxiety perception.
                This controlled trial provides preliminary evidence that six-month acupressure therapy provides female adolescents with dysmenorrhoea benefits.
                Acupressure is an effective and safe non-pharmacologic strategy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. We recommend the use of acupressure for self-care of primary dysmenorrhoea at Hegu and Sanyinjiao matched points and single point Hegu, as pressure placement at these points is easy for adolescent girls to learn and practice. This paper presents the findings of a study that assessed the effects of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea among adolescent girls.
                Dysmenorrhoea is the most common gynaecological disorder among adolescents. Traditional Chinese acupressure derived from acupuncture is a non-invasive technique. Despite renewed interest in the use of acupressure, relatively few studies have been undertaken to examine its effects on primary dysmenorrhoea.
                An experimental study was conducted between December 2000 and August 2001. Participants were female students attending a technical college in Taiwan. None of the 69 participants had a prior history of gynaecological disease or secondary dysmenorrhoea, and all were rated higher than five for pain on a visual analogue scale from 0 to 10. The experimental group (n = 35) received acupressure at Sanyinjiao (above the ankle) while the control group (n = 34) rested for 20 min, while the control group underwent rest in the school health centre for 20 min without receiving acupressure. Fifty participants (30 experimental, 20 control) completed the 4-6-week follow-up session. Five instruments were used to collect pretest and post-test data at each session: (1) Visual Analogue Scale for pain; (2) the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire; (3) the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire; (4) the Visual Analogue Scale for anxiety; and, for the experimental group only, (5) the Acupressure Self-Assessment Form. Data were analysed using the chi-square test, two-sample t-test and repeated measures two-way anova.
                Acupressure at Sanyinjiao during the initial session reduced the pain and anxiety typical of dysmenorrhoea. In the self-treatment follow-up session, acupressure at Sanyinjiao significantly reduced menstrual pain but not anxiety. Thirty-one (87%) of the 35 experimental participants reported that acupressure was helpful, and 33 (94%) were satisfied with acupressure in terms of its providing pain relief and psychological support during dysmenorrhoea.
                The findings suggest that acupressure at Sanyinjiao can be an effective, cost-free intervention for reducing pain and anxiety during dysmenorrhoea, and we recommend its use for self-care of primary dysmenorrhoea.
Acupuncture may reduce period pain, however there is a need for further well-designed randomised controlled trials.