Study on the effect of acupressure for menstrual cramps

This study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong aims to evaluate the effects of acupressure at the acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) on the reduction of pain and menstrual stress in dysmenorrhea.

Forty participants with dysmenorrhea were assigned to either the acupressure group or the control group. The acupressure group received 20 minutes of SP6 acupressure during the first intervention session and were instructed to treat the technique twice daily from the first to the third day of their menstrual cycle for three months after the first session. In contrast, the control group was only asked to rest. Outcomes were measured using (1) the Pain-VISUAL Analogue Scale (PVAS), (2) the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and (3) the Short-Form Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (SF-MDQ).

There was a statisticallysignificant decrease in the pain score on the PVAS and the SF-MPQ immediately after the 20-minute SP6 acupressure. During the self-care phases, a significant reduction in PVAS, SF-MPQ and SF-MDQ scores was observed in the third month after the intervention.

SP6 acupressure has an immediate pain-relieving effect on dysmenorrhea. In addition, the treatment of acupressure at the SP6 acupuncture point for three consecutive months was effective in relieving both pain and menstrual distress due to dysmenorrhea.