Herb-partitioned moxibustion group (A) and starch-partitioned moxibustion group (B) were applied to shenque (CV8) (umbilical every menstrual cycle approximately 2∼3 times, until menstruating). Acupuncture group (C) was provided at sanyinjiao (SP6) (started acupuncture 3∼5 days before menstruation, once a day until menstruating). Three menstrual cycles are considered a course of treatment.
Clinical efficacy, E2, P, PGF2α
The cured rate in group A was better than those in groups B and C (). In group A, E2 and PGF2α levels were decreased, and P level was increased. In groups B and C, PGF2α levels were reduced. The results in group A were better than those in groups B and C ().
Heat-sensitive sensation and the conventional warm sensation of moxibustion [74]
189
Heat-sensitive moxibustion and conventional warm sensation groups were applied to guanyuan (GV4) for 40 min beginning 5 days before menstruation. Each menstrual cycle was treated for (7 ± 2) days, and both groups were treated for three periods.
MPQ, CMSS
MPQ and CMSS scores were lower in the treatment group than the control group ().
Ginger moxibustion combined with acupuncture and ibuprofen sustained-release capsules [75]
60
The treatment group was treated with ginger moxibustion at shenque (RN8) cooperated with acupuncture at sanyinjiao (SP6), zusanli (ST36), hegu (LI4), and neiguan (PC6) once per day, starting 5 days before menstruation continued for 7 days in each menstrual cycle. The control group took orally two times/day when symptoms of dysmenorrhea occurred. Both groups were treated for three menstrual cycles.
Effective rate, VAS score, PGE2, PGF2α
The instant curative effect, recent curative effect, and long-term curative effect in the treatment group were better than those in the control groups (). The long-term VAS score and PGE2 and PGF2a levels in the treatment group were better than those of the control group.
Moxibustion was applied for 20 min at guanyuan (GV4) once daily, seven times in total. Staring 5 days before menstruation, continued for 7 days for three consecutive menstrual cycles, followed up for three menstrual cycles.
The practical clinical rate, TCM symptoms, VAS score, CMSS score, persistent pain time, usage of painkillers, and QOL
The total effective rate was 44.89%, the total score of the symptoms, VAS score, CMSS score, pain persistent time, and usage rate of painkillers were reduced (). The scores in the perceptive field, mental field, QOL were all increased ().
Thunder-fire moxibustion combined with wenjing zhitong decoction [77]
116
The treatment group was treated with thunder-fire moxibustion combined with wenjing zhitong decoction once per day, starting 7 days before menstruation until the end of menstruation. The control group took orally two times/day. Both groups were treated for three menstrual cycles.
Clinical efficacy, TCM symptoms, VAS score
Clinical efficacy, TCM symptoms, and VAS score in the treatment group were better than those in control group ().
Drug-spreading moxibustion and oral administration of meloxicam [78]
101
Drug-spreading moxibustion was used on the lumbosacral acupoints area and then around the lower abdominal 5 days before menstruation until the third day of menstruation, once 3 days. Meloxicam was prescribed one day before menstruation 7.5 mg at a time once a day and continuously for 3 days.
Clinical efficacy, RI, and PI
The effective rate was 92.3% in the treatment group, which was better than that in the control group (). RI and PI in the treatment group were decreased than those in the control group ().
Thunder-fire moxibustion combined with ear points and ibuprofen sustained-release capsules [79]
76
The thunder-fire moxibustion selected zhongwan (CV12), guanyuan (CV4), and double sides of zusanli (ST36) points, 30 min per point each time, once a day for 3 consecutive days. Auricular points are selected from the uterus, endocrine, shenmen (TF4), liver, and kidney. For 3 days, oral ibuprofen sustained-release capsules 0.3 g/time, once in the morning and in the evening. Both groups were treated for three menstrual cycles.
VAS score, CMSS score, PGF2α, and PGE2
The VAS scores and CMSS scores of the treatment group were reduced than those in the control group (). Serum PGF2α level was decreased, and serum PGE2 level was increased in both groups (), and the effect of the treatment group was better than that of the western medicine group ().
Herb-partitioned moxibustion at the umbilicus combined with abdominal acupuncture [80]
82
The treatment group was intervened by herb-partitioned moxibustion at the umbilicus plus abdominal acupuncture, and the control group was treated with abdominal acupuncture alone, once per day, starting 7 days before menstruation for 3 consecutive days.
Clinical efficacy, PGE2, PGF2α, PI, and RI
The clinical efficacy rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (). Serum PGF2α level, PI, and RI were decreased, and serum PGE2 level was increased in both groups (), and the effect of the treatment group was better than that of the western medicine group ().
In the control group, warm needling was used at guanyuan (CV4) and sanyinjiao (SP6). In the treatment group, besides the same treatment as the control group, moxibustion was added at shenque (CV8). The first menstrual cycle started one day before menstruation, whereas menstrual cycles 2, 3, and 4, started 3 days before menstruation, once a day for 3 days until menstruation.
The score of the severity and the score of the total frequency in the retrospective scale of dysmenorrhea symptoms, VAS score, and the safety of the two therapeutic methods.
The score of severity, score of total frequency, and VAS score of menstrual pain were all reduced, and the effect of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (). The safety evaluation was not significant between the two groups ().
Baixiao moxibustion and ibuprofen sustained-release capsules [82]
202
Patients in group A received baixiao moxibustion for 30 min; group B received baixiao moxibustion for 15 min; group C was prescribed with ibuprofen sustained-release capsules. Groups A and B were used at guanyuan (CV4), sanyinjiao (SP6), and mingmen (GV4), once per day, starting 10 days before menstruation for 7 consecutive days. Both groups were treated for three menstrual cycles.
The real-time, short-term, and long-term VAS score, RI, PI, PSV, EDV, and PGF2α
The treatment group’s real-time, short-term, and long-term efficacy were better than those of the control group (). The VAS score, RI, PI, and PGF2α levels were decreased, and PSV and EDV were increased after treatment in the three groups. Both the effects of the treatment group were better than those of the control group ().
PGE2, prostaglandin E2; PGF2α, prostaglandin F2 α; P, progesterone; E2, estradiol; VAS, visual analog scale; CMSS, cox menstrual symptom scale; TCM symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome factors; MPQ, mcgill pain questionnaire; QOL, quality of life. Uterine-artery hemodynamic indexes: resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV).
