Research reports from M.C. Wang and co-authors provide new insights into dysmenorrhea.(Clinical report)

"The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure on relieving menstrual symptoms and decreasing nitric oxide (NO) for women with primary dysmenorrhea. This was a randomized clinical trial comparing the effects of auricular acupressure by seed-pressure method and placebo adhesive patch," scientists writing in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine report (see also Dysmenorrhea).

"Settings included colleges in northern and central Taiwan. Serum CA-125 testing was used as a screening test for primary dysmenorrhea ( <35 mg/dL). The study included 36 college females randomized to acupressure group, 35 to control group. The acupressure group received auricular acupressure by seed-pressure method on liver (CO12), kidney (CO10), and endocrine (CO18) acupoints. The control group had a plain adhesive patch placed on the same acupoints with no seed attached. Acupressure protocol included massaging 15 times on each acupoint, 3 times a day, for a total of 20 days. Primary: Short-form Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQs). Secondary: blood sample of NO. Assessments of MDQs and NO were performed at baseline and within the first 2 days of their next menses (after completion of 20 days of acupressure). In the acupressure group, the overall menstrual symptoms (95% confidence interval [CI] = -49.8 to -6.5, effect size [ES] = 0.43, p = 0.01) and two subscales, menstrual pain (95% CI = -16.4 - to -2.2, ES = 0.45, p = 0.01) and negative affects (95% CI = -11.9-2.0, ES = 0.38, p = 0.04), revealed that menstrual symptoms decreased significantly after auricular acupressure by the seed-pressure method. The ES for the MDQs were in favor of the auricular acupressure by seed-pressure method. NO level increased in the acupressure group, although this difference did not achieve statistical significance (p> 0.05)," wrote M.C. Wang and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "This study supports the effects of auricular acupressure by seed-pressure method in improving menstrual symptoms, and offers a noninvasive complementary therapy for women with primary dysmenorrhea."

Wang and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Menstrual Symptoms and Nitric Oxide for Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2009;15(3):235-242).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting C.F. Liu, National Taipei College Nursing, Graduate Institute Integrat Tradit Chinese Med Western Nur, 365 Ming Rd., Taipei 112, Taiwan.

The publisher of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine can be contacted at: Mary Ann Liebert Inc., 140 Huguenot Street, 3RD FL, New Rochelle, NY 10801, USA.

Keywords: Taiwan, Taipei, Clinical Trial Research, Complementary Medicine, Drugs, Dysmenorrhea, Endocrine, Gynecology, ...