Research Of Time Effect Regularity Of Acupuncture For Primary Dysmenorrhea

Objective: To observe the role of time in acupuncture treating primarydysmenorrhea and to compare the differences between two different acupointprescriptions as to provide clinical evidence for best needle-retaining time, acupuncturefrequency and prioritization scheme improvement. Methods:568patients of primarydysmenorrhea from5different clinical trial centers were randomly divided into fivedifferent groups, two groups with188patients among the above five groups werechosen. Single-Point group (Shiqizhui(EX-B8)) with95patients and Multi-Point group(Shiqizhui(EX-B8), Ciliao(BL32), Diji(SP8), Sanyinjiao(SP6)) with93patients,2patients were excluded and14patients were dropped. To observe the changes of painvisual analogue scale (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) with time of two groups beforeand after acupuncture and to compare the differences between two groups. Results:There was no difference of VAS between two groups both before and after treatment.Both groups were significantly different (P<0.01) in VAS after treatment comparingbefore treatment. Analgesic effect showed after5-minute needling, and the effect risingwith needle-retaining time up to30minutes. There was a decline in analgesic effectafter removing needles for30minutes, but analgesic effect reinforcing after removingneedles for60minutes and120minutes. Analgesic effects in two groups were similar.Conclusion:1. Sing-Point group (Shiqizhui(EX-B8)) and Multi-Point group(Shiqizhui(EX-B8), Ciliao(BL32), Diji(SP8), Sanyinjiao(SP6)) can both significantlyreduce the pain of primary dysmenorrhea in clinic.2. There are peaks in both groupsafter needling for30minutes. The best induction period of acupuncture is probably30minutes, and the needle retaining time is no less than30minutes.3. NeedlingSingle-Point group (Shiqizhui(EX-B8))for30minutes has a better analgesic effect thanneedling Shiqizhui(EX-B8) less than30minutes. For patients with menstruation pain for days or longer, it is better to needle Shiqizhui(EX-B8) twice a day because of theshort half-life period.4. For prioritization scheme improvement, needlingShiqizhui(EX-B8) is effective enough for treating primary dysmenorrhea when the painoccurring.5. There is no apparent correlation between acupuncture analgesic time-effectregularity and primary dysmenorrhea pain intensity.