Different stimulation methods on auricular points for primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To prove the therapeutic effect of auricular intradermal needling and auricular point sticking on primary dysmenorrhea (PD), and to explore its mechanism.@*METHODS@#A total of 90 patients with PD were randomized into an auricular intradermal needling group, an auricular point sticking group and a placebo group, 30 cases in each one. Neishengzhiqi (TF@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the scores of CMSS, VAS and SAS were decreased at each time point of treatment in the auricular intradermal needling group, 2, 3 courses into treatment and at follow-up in the auricular point sticking group and 3 courses into treatment in the placebo group (@*CONCLUSION@#Auricular intradermal needling and auricular point sticking can both improve the clinical symptom of primary dysmenorrhea, relieve the pain and anxiety, their mechanism may be related to regulating the serum levels of PGF

Effect of auricular intradermal needling combined with erjian (HX) bloodletting on sleep quality and neuroendocrine level in patients with perimenopausal insomnia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effect differences between auricular intradermal needling combined with erjian (HX) bloodletting and oral administration of western medicine, and to explore the efficacy of neuroendocrine level in patients with perimenopausal insomnia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 45 cases in each one. In the observation group, auricular intradermal needling combined with erjian (HX) bloodletting were adopted alternately in the two ears. The auricular points were shen (CO), xin (CO), gan (CO), shenmen (TF), jiaogan (AH), neifenmi (CO) and erjian (HX). The treatment was required once 3 days on the auricular points of one side alternatively. Oral administration of estazolam (1mg each day) was applied in the control group for 2 courses, 4 weeks as 1 course, once a day. The scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the levels of serum estrogen (E), 5-hydroxy tryptamine (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) were valuated in the two groups before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the total scores of PSQI reduced in the two groups (both <0.05), and the improvements of sleeping quality, sleeping time, sleeping difficulty, daytime dysfunction and the total PSQI score in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (all <0.05). There was no significant difference in serum E before and after treatment in the two groups，and between the two groups after treatment (all >0.05). After treatment, 5-HT contents increased and NE levels decreased in the two groups (all <0.05), with better results in the observation group (both <0.05). The total effective rate was 95.6% (43/45) in the observation group, which was higher than 82.2% (37/45) in the control group (<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Auricular intradermal needling combined with erjian (HX) bloodletting can improve the sleep quality of patients with perimenopausal insomnia, and adjust the neurotransmitter level, which achieves better effect than western medication.</p>