title: Effect of acupuncture on Deqi traits and pain intensity in primary dysmenorrhea: analysis of data from a larger randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deqi is a central concept in traditional Chinese acupuncture. We performed a secondary analysis on data from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) in order to assess the effect of acupuncture on deqi traits and pain intensity in primary dysmenorrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 primary dysmenorrhea patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. Acupuncture was given at SP6, GB39 or nonacupoint. Subjective pain was measured by a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after acupuncture. The Massachusetts General Hospital acupuncture sensation scales (MASS) with minor modification was used to rate deqi sensations during acupuncture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that VAS scores of pain after acupuncture were significantly decreased comparing to before acupuncture treatment in all three groups (P = 0.000). However, no significant differences were found among three groups at the beginning or end of acupuncture treatment (P = 0.928, P = 0.419).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no statistical difference among three groups in terms of intensity of deqi feeling. The types of sensation were similar across the groups with only minor differences among them.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN24863192.
authors.forename: Guang-Xia
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Qian-Qian
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China. lcz623780@126.com.
authors.forename: Cun-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Lin-Peng
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Meng-Meng
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019413:Qi; D012677:Sensation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult