Effect of an Acupuncture Technique of Penetrating through Zhibian (BL54) to Shuidao (ST28) with Long Needle for Pain Relief in Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background. Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is the commonest gynecological disorder in young women of reproductive age, and there is not always satisfactory relief of pain treated by common medications. Therefore, acupuncture has been used as an alternative therapy to relieve the symptoms of PD. In clinical practice, a penetrating method of acupuncture with long needle has been shown to be particularly effective for improving primary dysmenorrhea. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique for pain relief in patients with primary dysmenorrhea as compared with a conventional pain medication. Methods. The present study is a perspective, randomized, ibuprofen-controlled trial. Sixty-two eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1 : 1 ratio to receive either acupuncture treatment or ibuprofen administration. The treatment lasted for three menstrual cycles for both groups. The primary outcome was the intensity of menstrual pain measured by using the visual analogue scale at the completion of treatment. Secondary outcomes included the severity of symptoms associated with menstrual pain, responder rate, and safety of acupuncture treatment. The clinical outcomes were measured on each menstrual cycle at baseline, treatment course (3 cycles), and follow-up period. Results. Sixty-four patients of primary dysmenorrhea were recruited, and 62 subjects were included in the final analysis. At trial completion, acupuncture was shown to be associated with a significantly lower pain intensity and decreased symptom severity of primary dysmenorrhea as compared with ibuprofen (p<0.05). A significantly higher responder rate was found in the acupuncture group as compared with the control group (p<0.05). No serious adverse events were reported by patients in either group. Conclusions. The penetrating method of acupuncture with long needle may be an effective and safe therapy for pain relief in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17012621).

Acupuntura para o tratamento da dismenorreia primária: Principais pontos

“…Nos artigos selecionados Shetty B. et al, (2018), Wang, et al, (2019), Zhao, et al, (2017 e Wang, et al, (2018) foram avaliadas 348 mulheres que apresentavam queixas de dismenorreia primaria de leve a severa, com pontuação significativa na escala visual analógica de dor (EVA). Na diferenciação das síndromes, observou-se quadros de estagnação de frio e umidade (CDSS), estagnação de Qi e estase de sangue.…”

“…Os resultados se justificam em função dos efeitos analgésicos centrais da acupuntura, efeitos reflexos nos tecidos e alterações no fluxo sanguíneo. Da mesma forma, Wang, et al, (2019) utilizou pontos do meridiano do vaso concepção e percebeu uma melhora em relação a pacientes com síndrome de excesso (frio e umidade) e regulação benigna sobre a síntese de prostaglandina. Essa regulação na circulação sanguínea causa uma diluição de prostaglandinas intravasculares, bradicininas e histaminas, justificando o efeito analgésico.…”

“…Segundo Wang, et al, (2019) que utilizou os pontos bexiga 54 (B-54), estômago 28 (E-28), intestino grosso 4 (IG-4) entre outros, comparou a eficácia da acupuntura com o uso do medicamento Ibuprofeno. O resultado foi a diminuição significativa da intensidade da dor e uma baixa incidência de eventos adversos geralmente ocasionados com o analgésico convencional.…”

“…Segundo Armour, et al, (2017), na MTC a dismenorreia é causada pelo fluxo irregular de Qi e sangue circulando pelos meridianos. Tanto Shetty B. et al, (2018), quanto Wang, et al, (2019) decorrem em seus achados que a acupuntura tem sido amplamente utilizada para tratar condições de dor e promover a livre circulação de Qi e sangue.…”

Integrating Lifestyle Focused Approaches into the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: Impact on Quality of Life

“…48,51 The ost common needle sites for effective acupuncture in these cases, that have been proposed by the international literature, are SP6, BL54, and ST28. 52,53 Aromatherapy massage has also been suggested as beneficial in minimizing pain and discomfort in patients with PD. During aromatherapy massage, essential oils are applied directly to the skin, or during a bath, or they are inhaled.…”