Randomised trial, 2008
Does substance-partitioned moxibustion help period pain from cold-damp stagnation?
Yes. Moxibustion was 95.2% effective compared to 85.6% for a Chinese herbal drug. The improvement may work through increased natural pain-relieving chemicals.
What they did
Randomized trial comparing moxibustion to a Chinese herbal drug called Yueyue-shu. 105 women received moxibustion and 104 received the drug. In 40 women from each group, researchers measured a pain-relieving chemical (beta-endorphin) before and after treatment.
What they found
The moxibustion group had a 95.2% effective rate compared to 85.6% in the drug group. In women treated with moxibustion, the pain-relieving chemical in their blood increased significantly.
What it means for you
Moxibustion was more effective than the herbal medicine for this specific type of period pain. It may work by increasing a natural pain-relieving chemical in the body.
95.2%
effective rate with moxibustion
85.6%
effective rate with herbal drug
105
women in moxibustion group
About the study
- Original title
- [Effects of substance-partitioned moxibustion on plasma beta-EP content in the patient with primary dysmenorrhea of cold-damp stagnation type in the menstrual period]
- Authors
- She YF, Sun LH, Yang JJ et al.
- Journal
- Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 105
- What was tested
- substance-partitioned moxibustion versus Chinese herbal drug Yueyue-shu
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18972726/
Topics
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