Study, 2016
Does acupuncture help with irritability and other mood symptoms of PMS?
Yes. Women who received acupuncture showed significant improvement in their mood symptoms. About 73% of women said they were satisfied with the treatment.
What they did
Researchers compared 30 women with premenstrual irritability who received acupuncture treatment to 22 women with the same symptoms who did not receive treatment. Women in the treatment group had 6 acupuncture sessions, one per week over 6 weeks. Mood and psychiatric symptoms were measured using an 18-question scale.
What they found
All symptoms, including irritability, improved by about 43%. Of the 30 women treated with acupuncture, 73.3% (22 women) reported being satisfied with the results. The treatment group showed clear improvement compared to the control group and compared to their own symptoms before treatment.
What it means for you
Acupuncture may help reduce irritability and mood symptoms in PMS. The main limits are the small number of people studied and that women in the control group knew they weren't receiving treatment, which could affect their symptoms. The study was done in one location and may not apply to all women.
30
women in treatment group
6
acupuncture sessions
73.3%
satisfied with treatment
About the study
- Original title
- A Comparative Study on the Effectiveness of Acupuncture in Treating Psychiatric Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome
- Authors
- Tetsuya Isobe
- Journal
- 日本東洋醫學雜誌
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Acupuncture, 6 sessions over 6 weeks
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3937/kampomed.67.264
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