title: A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of applying a simple acupressure protocol to the Taichong point in relieving dysmenorrhea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether applying a simple acupressure protocol to the Taichong point is effective in relieving dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-blind trial 194 students with dysmenorrhea were randomized to receive acupressure 5 days before menstruation for 3 months on either the Taichong or a placebo point. The severity of dysmenorrhea was assessed in the first and last of the 4 study cycles using the Andersch and Milsom scale. The χ(2) test, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in dysmenorrhea severity between the 2 groups was not significant in the first cycle but it was significant in the fourth cycle (U = 2377.00, P<0.001), and the decrease in dysmenorrhea severity was also significant in the study group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying a simple pressure protocol to the Taichong acupoint was an effective and inexpensive way of decreasing the severity of dysmenorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bazarganipour
authors.forename: Minoor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamyian
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heshmat
authors.forename: Mohamad Asghari Jaafar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abadi
authors.forename: Abdolvahab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taghavi
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000293:Adolescent; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult