A new study has found that manual acupuncture can reduce the intensity and duration of period pain by up to 50 percent.
Period pain, or dysmenorrhea, is a condition that affects up to 95% of menstruating women.
Dysmenorrhea is classified into two types: primary, where there is no known health condition causing painful period pain, and secondary, where the pain occurs as a result of a diagnosed condition such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
A new study led by Australian researchers is examining the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving period pain.
The study was carried out by Dr Mike Armour from the National Institute for Complementary Medicine (NICM) at the University of Western Sydney in Australia, and colleagues from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Auckland, also in Australia.
The study involved 74 adult women aged between 18 and 45 years. All of them had been diagnosed with or suspected to have primary dysmenorrhea, but had no diagnosis that would have led to the detection of secondary dysmenorrhea.
The women were randomly assigned to four groups, two high-frequency and two low-frequency groups. The high-frequency and low-frequency groups were assigned to manual acupuncture, while the remaining two groups received electroacupuncture, in which needles are connected to a device that delivers electrical impulses to the body.
Participants in the high-frequency group received three acupuncture treatments one week before the start of their period, while women in the low-frequency group received three treatments every 7-10 days between periods.
All participants received 12 acupuncture treatments over three menstrual cycles, as well as one treatment during the first 48 hours of menstruation.
It was found that women who received acupuncture experienced more significant improvements in the intensity of their period pain, associated symptoms, and overall quality of life.
However, the researchers acknowledged that larger trials are needed before professionals can develop detailed and precise guidelines for using acupuncture to treat this condition.
“Practical trials of acupuncture have shown it reduces pain intensity and improves quality of life in women with period pain, but there is limited evidence about how altering the ‘dosage’ of acupuncture affects outcomes,” Dr Armour said.
All study participants were asked to keep a diary throughout the study period, recording details about the progression of their menstrual symptoms.
The researchers were surprised to find that more than half of the women who received manual acupuncture experienced up to a 50 percent reduction in period pain and related symptoms.
This found that, overall, manual acupuncture was significantly more effective than electroacupuncture for treating period pain.
In our pilot study, using manual stimulation of the needles rather than electrical pulses […] This resulted in a reduced need for pain medication and improved secondary symptoms such as headaches and nausea.”
Dr. Mike Armour
All treatments administered during the study period were
This treatment was based on traditional Chinese medical practices and the organ system, which identifies the unique properties of each organ and how they relate to each other.
The findings of Dr. Armour and her colleagues are intriguing and may lead to new treatment options for women looking to minimize the impact of dysmenorrhea on their lives.
