This irregular period acupuncture research study compared the therapeutic effects of two different acupuncture protocols. The first, called “mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating acupuncture method”, incorporates mind, body, and emotions into the treatment. The second focuses on the body alone, regulating a common pattern imbalance called Liver Qi Stagnation. The study demonstrated that a holistic approach (mind, body and emotions) to treating irregular menstruation was superior.
Methods
40 patients with irregular menstrual cycles were randomly divided into two groups. The test group (mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating acupuncture method) had 23 participants. The control group (treated with standard acupuncture method for irregular menstrual cycle) had 17 participants. The participants received acupuncture spanning three menstrual cycles. Evaluations scored the symptoms before treatment and at the end of each menstrual cycle.
After treatment, significant differences were found between the two groups. The therapeutic effect of the mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating acupuncture method was significantly superior to the routine acupuncture method for irregular menstruation.
Discussion
The normal length of a woman’s menstrual cycle is 28 days, but this varies between individuals. Irregular menstruation is when the the cycle lasts more than 35 days, or if the duration varies. Liver qi stagnation is the most common pattern imbalance for patients with irregular periods. These patients often have high levels of stress in conjunction with their physical symptoms. The researchers believed this is why routine acupuncture could not yield satisfactory results for such patients. Mind-tranquilizing and menstruation-regulating acupuncture, on the other hand, was believed to deliver improved therapeutic effects.
All 40 participants were outpatients of the Affiliated Hospital to Chengdu TCM University from November 2004 to October 2005. Their ages ranged from 18 to 42 years. All of them presented with the Chinese medicine diagnosis of irregular menstruation due to liver qi stagnation. They were randomly divided by the single-blind method into two groups, treatment, and control. The patients themselves did not know which group they were in.
For the treatment group, the acupuncture points included Shenting (GV 24), bilateral Siguan (LV3 and LI4), and bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Shenting (GV 24) was transversely punctured, while Siguan and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were needled perpendicularly. The control group received bilateral Xingjian (LV 2), Ligou (LV 5), Xuehai (SP 10), Diji (SP 8), and Zigong (EX-CA1). All of these points were perpendicularly needled.
After the arrival of qi, the needles were retained for 30 minutes. Treatments were given every other day, not including weekends, for 3 menstrual cycles. Outcomes were defined in the following way. Cured: Disappearance of between 90 and 100% of the symptoms. Markedly relieved: Disappearance of between 70 and 90% of the symptoms. Improved: Disappearance of between 30 and 70% of the symptoms. Failed: Less than 30% disappearance of the symptoms.
Irregular Menstruation Study Results
The results from this irregular period acupuncture research was dramatic. In the treatment group 76% of the participants were cured, 14% were markedly relieved, 10% were improved and 0% failed. In the control group 6% were cured, 31% were markedly relieved, 56% were improved and 6% failed. The treatment group saw a much higher cure rate, although both groups saw an improvement of condition with reduced symptoms.
According to modern medicine, the pathological mechanism for delayed menstrual cycle is the regulatory function of the reproductive axis controlled by neurotransmitters of the cerebral cortex. This leads to dysfunction of the ovary, sexual hormone secretion, and relative deficiency of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), resulting in slow follicular development, prolonged follicular phase, and delayed ovulation. All of this affects the periodic change of the endometrium, resulting in delayed menstruation.
Critical To Address Emotions
The researchers in this irregular period acupuncture research explained the rationale behind this result. Modern society bombards us with increasingly fierce competition, accelerated work and life pace, and complicated interpersonal communication. This constant stress and psychosomatic responsiveness has resulted in long-term tonicity of the cerebral cortex. This increased brain tonicity impacts the regulatory function of the reproductive axis. Under such circumstances, the study authors postulate that acupuncture treatment is more effective when addressing emotional factors in addition to physical conditions. The results from this irregular period acupuncture research have shown that this method exerts better therapeutic effect than routine acupuncture.
REFERENCES
Wu J, Cai XM, Kui Y. Treatment of delayed menstrual cycle with the needling method for tranquilizing the mind and regulating menstruation. Academic Publication of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy 2005; 23: 1214. 2.
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