A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of applying a simple acupressure protocol to the Taichong point in relieving dysmenorrhea. 


Author: Bazarganipour F, Lamyian M, Heshmat R, Abadi MA, Taghavi A.  

Affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. 
Conference/Journal: Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 
Date published: 2010 Nov
Other:
 Volume ID: 111   ,  Issue ID: 2   ,  Pages: 105-9   ,  Word Count: 162  
    OBJECTIVE: To examine whether applying a simple acupressure protocol to the Taichong point is effective in relieving dysmenorrhea.



METHODS: In this single-blind trial 194 students with dysmenorrhea were randomized to receive acupressure 5 days before menstruation for 3 months on either the Taichong or a placebo point. The severity of dysmenorrhea was assessed in the first and last of the 4 study cycles using the Andersch and Milsom scale. The χ(2) test, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for data analysis.



RESULTS: The difference in dysmenorrhea severity between the 2 groups was not significant in the first cycle but it was significant in the fourth cycle (U = 2377.00, P<0.001), and the decrease in dysmenorrhea severity was also significant in the study group (P<0.05).



CONCLUSION: Applying a simple pressure protocol to the Taichong acupoint was an effective and inexpensive way of decreasing the severity of dysmenorrhea.



Copyright © 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 20547392