title: [Acupoint catgut embedding for perimenopausal syndrome: a clinical controlled trial].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical efficacy differences between acupoint catgut embedding and Kuntai capsule for perimenopausal syndrome, so as to provide an effective treatment method for perimenopausal syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three cases in the embedding group were treated with acupoint catgut embedding at back-shu points and front-mu points of liver, spleen and kidney combined with syndrome differentiation and disease differentiation, ten days per times; the Kuntai group was treated with oral administration of Kuntai capsule, 4 capsules each time, three times per day. The Kupperman index (KI) was observed in the two groups before treatment after 10 days, 30 days and 60 days of treatment, respectively; the efficacy was evaluated according to the ratio of KI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the treatment, as treatment proceeded, the score of KI and ratio of KI were gradually reduced in two groups; the score of KI and ratio of KI in the embedding group after 10 days of treatment was lower than those in the Kuntai group (both P<0.05); after 10 days of treatment, the total effective rate was 36.4% (12/33) in the embedding group, which was superior to 3.0% (1/33) in the Kuntai group (P<0.05); however, after 30 days and 60 days of treatment, the differences of each index between two groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the acupoint catgut embedding and Kuntai capsule could reduce the score of KI and improve clinical symptoms, and the acupoint catgut embedding has certain advantage on the early stage of treatment.
authors.forename: Chun-ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Zhen-yun
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D000328:Adult; D002398:Catgut; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome