Randomised trial, 2005
Does acupuncture with herbal injection work better than medication for premenstrual tension syndrome?
Acupuncture with herbal injection had a 92.6 percent success rate compared to 75 percent for standard medication over 3 menstrual cycles. However, the study could not be blinded, so expectations may have influenced results.
What they did
102 women with premenstrual tension syndrome were randomly assigned to either acupuncture with herbal injections or medication. The acupuncture group received injections and acupuncture at eight locations every three days for 10 days before menstruation. The medication group took diazepam and oryzanol for the same period. Both groups were treated over 3 menstrual cycles.
What they found
The acupuncture group had a 92.6 percent effective rate while the medication group had a 75 percent effective rate, a clear difference.
What it means for you
Acupuncture with herbal injection appeared more effective than medication, but this was not a blinded study so women's expectations about the treatments could have affected results. A medium-sized study.
102
women studied
92.6%
effective rate for acupuncture group
75%
effective rate for medication group
About the study
- Original title
- [Clinical therapeutic effect of point-injection combined with body acupuncture on prementstrual tension syndrome]
- Authors
- Xu TZ
- Journal
- Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Acupuncture with herbal injections versus oral medication
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309100/
Topics
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