Comparison Of The Efficacy Of Acupuncture Plus Shenque Ginger Moxibustion And Acupuncture Treatment Alone In Treating Dysmenorrhea In Uterine Adenomyosis

ObjectiveThis clinical study used a randomized controlled design to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture plus Shenque ginger moxibustion in the treatment of adenomyosis. It is to observe the effect if the combined treatment on the improvement of dysmenorrhoea and cold body nature, as compared to acupuncture alone.MethodsThis study adopted the randomized controlled design on a group of60patients with dysmenorrhea and adenomyosis with blood stasis due to accumulation of cold. All patients were recruited from a clinic in Hong Kong and diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria listed in<Chinese Gynecology>, the25th edition, published in October2012by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The acupuncture points used referred to those listed in<Acupuncture>, the9th edition, published in January2006by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The points used were The acupuncture points for blood stasis due to accumulation of cold are:Sanyinjiao (bilateral), Zhongji (bilateral), Ciliao (bilateral), Guilai (bilateral), Diji (bilateral). In addition, Zigong (bilateral) and Guanyuan were added as experience from treating patients with endometriosis indicated that the dysmenorrheal can be improved with these. Other acupuncture points might be included according to individual cases.The patients were randomly divided into two groups, each group had30people. Patients in the treatment group were treated with acupuncture plus ginger moxibustion at Shenque, and the control group and had simple acupuncture treatment. Control grouppatients had treatments2weeks before menstrual period began, with a simple oblique acupuncture on alternate days until1or2days after menstruation started. Each acupuncture treatment last for30minutes and continued for three menstrual cycles.Treatment groups:the treatment for control group plus Ginger moxibustion at Shenque. The Ginger was cut into slices of3cm in diameter,0.2to0.3cm thick with some needle holes. Moxibustion was done on the ginger. When patients felt a burning sensation a new moxibustion column was placed on the ginger over the navel. The treatment last for30minutes and ended simultaneously and synchronized with the end of acupuncture treatment.Statistical analysis was done with SPSS version17.0. Independent t test was used to analyze continuous variables and paired-t test was used for intra-group comparison, x2test was used in categorical variables.ResultsTreatment group and the control group at each time point dysmenorrhea NRS scores were statistically significant, indicating that after treatment, both groups of patients with dysmenorrhea NRS score has improved significantly, but the treatment group than the control group, P<0.05, with statistically significant. It proved that Ginger moxibustion at Shenque plus acupuncture has higher efficacy than using acupuncture alone. For the improvement of improvement in cold limbs, After treatment, the treatment group Hanning blood stasis syndrome scores at each time point was statistically significant, P <0.05; the control group at each time point Hanning Blood symptom scores showed no statistical significance, P>0.05, data showed that after treatment, the treatment group for patients with blood stasis syndrome improve Hanning points better than the control group. As observed two groups of three month term effects found that the treatment group in terms of improving the situation of menstrual pain and Hanning Blood can sustain, and improve dysmenorrhea control group and Hanning Blood improving aspects fell to prove in terms of dysmenorrhea, cold coagulation physical aspects of the efficacy of short and long term stasis, the treatment group had better result in both reducing dysmenorrhoea and limb coldness as well as post-treatment maintenance.Conclusion The treatment of acupuncture that helps to restore the kidney function and decrease blood stasis, plus ginger moxibustion at Shenque can help to improve the pain of patients with adenomyosis with blood stasis due to accumulation of cold. It also may help to improve the illness, resolve the symptoms and reduce the size of problem when the body condition of the patients improves.