[Efficacy observation on wrist-ankle needle for primary dysmenorrhea in undergraduates]

To compare efficacy difference among wrist-ankle needle, body-acupuncture and ibuprofen in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

Ninety-five cases were randomly divided into a wrist-ankle needle group (32 cases), a body-acupuncture group (31 cases) and an ibuprofen group (32 cases). Acupunc- , ture at Lower 1 and Lower 2 area was applied in the wrist-ankle needle group. Acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were applied in the body-acupuncture group. Ibuprofen sustained-release capsules were given for oral administration in the ibuprofen group. The treatment began 3 days before menses, once a day, until pain was relieved. One menstrual cycle was taken as a treatment course, continuously for 3 courses and efficacy were observed in three groups. The symptom score of dysmenorrhea and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to assess pain severity before and after treatment.

1The efficacy differences in three groups were statistically significant (P<0.01), in which the total effective rate was 90. 0% (27/30) in the wrist-ankle needle group, 73.4% (22/30) in the body-acupuncture group and 46. 7% (14/30) in the ibuprofen group. 2 After the treatment, symptom score of dysmenorrhea and VAS were all obviously lower than that before the treatment in three groups (all P<0.01). Compared with ibuprofen group (7.12+/-2.70), after the treatment symptom score of dysmenorrhea in the wrist-ankle needle group (4.00+/-3.40) and body-acupuncture group (5. 53+/-2. 80) was obviously decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and VAS in the wrist-ankle needle group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with body-acupuncture group (5. 53+/-2.80), symptom score of dysmenorrhea in the wrist-ankle needle group (4.00+/- 3. 40) was obviously decreased (P<0. 05).

The wrist-ankle needle has better effect than body acupuncture and ibuprofen on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea, which could significantly improve dysmenorrhea symptoms.