Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Effectiveness Study of Moxibustion on Pain Relief in Primary Dysmenorrhea: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Table 1

TCM pattern differentiation protocol for women with primary dysmenorrhoea.
Diagnostic pattern 1Items
Qi-stagnation and blood stasisPain: distended, stabbed abdominal pain before or during the period aggravated by pressure.
Menstruation: dark purplish in colour, clotty, and hesitant or scanty in flow; pain relieved after clots discharged.
Accompanying symptoms: distending in breasts, mood swings.
Tongue: purplish.
Pulse: wiry.
Diagnostic pattern 2Items
Congealing cold-damp Pain: distended, stabbed abdominal pain before or during the period, favourably to warmth, lower back pain.
Menstruation: dark purplish in colour, clotty, and hesitant in flow; pain relieved after clots discharged.
Accompanying symptoms: distending in breasts, mood swings, and aversion to cold.
Tongue: pale and white greasy tongue coating.
Pulse: deep and slow.