Combined Auricular Electrostimulation and Sunshi Dingtong Decoction Relieve Primary Dysmenorrhea With Qi Stagnation...

Primary dysmenorrhea with a qi stagnation and blood stasis pattern is associated with uterine inflammation and pain, and current pharmacologic therapies may cause adverse effects. This study evaluated the combined therapeutic effects of transcutaneous auricular point electrostimulation (TEAP) and Sunshi Dingtong decoction (SDD) in a rat model of qi stagnation and blood stasis primary dysmenorrhea. Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to the blank, model, SDD, TEAP, TEAP plus SDD, and ibuprofen groups. The model was induced using estradiol benzoate sensitization, epinephrine hydrochloride combined stress stimulation, and oxytocin administration. Rats received normal saline, SDD, ibuprofen, or TEAP at defined auricular points for seven days. Uterine morphology was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Uterine levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, PGF2α, and PGE2 were measured by ELISA, and uterine PPAR-γ2 and COX-2 mRNA expression was quantified by real-time PCR. Model rats showed uterine epithelial degeneration, neutrophil infiltration, increased IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, PGF2α, and COX-2 mRNA expression, and decreased PGE2 and PPAR-γ2 mRNA expression. TEAP or SDD alone partially reversed these pathological and molecular changes, whereas combined TEAP plus SDD produced more pronounced improvements, with effects comparable to those observed in the ibuprofen group. These findings suggest that TEAP combined with SDD alleviates uterine pathological injury and inflammation-related changes in qi stagnation and blood stasis primary dysmenorrhea (QSBSPD) rats, and that these effects are associated with the regulation of PPAR-γ2 and COX-2 mRNA expression.