[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupoint application on dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome and effect on prostaglandins].
OBJECTIVE
To observe therapeutic effect of acupoint application on dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome and its effect on prostaglandins.


METHODS
The patients with primary dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome were randomly divided into an application group and a medication group. The application group of 31 cases were treated with application of Chinese medicine composed of Zhinanxing (Rhizoma Arisaematis), Sanleng (Rhizoma Sparganii), Ezhu (Rhizoma Zedoariae), etc. at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6); and the medication group of 30 cases were treated with oral administration of Tianqi Tongjing Capsules. The scores for the pain degrees and the duration of dysmenorrhea were observed and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) contents in peripheral blood were determined before and after treatment.


RESULTS
The total effective rate of 93.5% in the application group was significantly better than 73.3% in the medication group (P < 0.05); after treatment, the scores of the symptoms were significantly decreased in the two groups (both P < 0.01), with more obvious improvement in the application group than the medication group (P < 0.01). The PGE2 content was significantly increased, and the PGF2alpha content and PGF2alpha/PGE2 were significantly decreased in the application group (all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupoint application has a better therapeutic effect on dysmenorrhea of excess syndrome and has benign regulative action on synthesis of prostaglandins in the patients with primary dysmenorrhea.
Wang
Shu-Xin
SX
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of TCM, Guangzhou 510405, China. widiot@126.com
Lu
De-Jian
DJ
Li
Yan-Hui
YH
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002214:Capsules; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000097:blood; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000097:blood*; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011453:Prostaglandins; D015237:Dinoprost; D015232:Dinoprostone