Acupuncturist generally experience a more difficult challenge relieving PMS pain once the pain has begun its onset. It is typically more effective to treat PMS before the cramps commence. Below is a neat study that had an adequate sample size (n=600) with multiple arms that looked at that question in addition to which points provide the most effective relief.
The study concluded that one acupuncture point, pictured to the right, EX-B8, was most effective. The conclusion is that EX-B8 was more effective used a single point than a multitude of points. The study also demonstrated that it is more effective to treat acupuncture pain before the onset of symptoms.
We learned the name of it as Josen in acupuncture school. My teacher Kiiko Matsumoto always used this point and referred to it as ‘hormones’.
A clinical trial of acupuncture about time-varying treatment and points selection in primary dysmenorrhea
Source
Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, Jinan 250355, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture at single point Shiqizhui (EX-B8) and multi-points in time-varying treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.
METHODS:
600 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to the single point group (n=200) including group A (treating before the menstruation, n=100) and group B (immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence, n=100), the multi-points group (n=200) including group C (treating before the menstruation, n=100) and group D (immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence, n=100), or the control group, group E (n=200, no treatment). The therapeutic effects were analyzed after treatment for three menstrual cycles and interviewed for three follow-up periods.
RESULTS:
Acupuncture could effectively relieve menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea compared with the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Immediate pain relief occurred following acupuncture within 5 min in group B (P<0.01) and group D (P<0.01), and the two groups obviously relieved menstrual pain for VAS scores. Both group A and group C obviously relieved menstrual pain (P<0.01), and group C was better than group A (P<0.05). Compared with group D, Group C was much better for CMSS scores in cycle 1.
CONCLUSION:
Treating before the menstruation is better than immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence at the improvement in symptoms of dysmenorrheal at multi-points. And single point is better than multi-points when immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence. The present trial suggest Shiqizhui (EX-B8) should be chosen as a convenient point.
