Randomised trial, 2023
Does electrical acupoint stimulation at Yongquan (KI-1) help with PMS?
Yes. Electrical acupoint stimulation was 69 percent effective in reducing PMS symptoms, compared to 40 percent for herbal treatment. The stimulation also improved hormone levels and reduced stress hormones and neurotransmitters.
What they did
Sixty PMS patients were randomly assigned to electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at Yongquan or herbal treatment. TEAS was applied daily from day 20 of the cycle until menstruation for 3 months. Hormone levels and symptoms were measured at baseline and end of treatment.
What they found
After 3 months, TEAS was 69 percent effective compared to herbal treatment at 40 percent effective (P<0.05). Symptom severity decreased significantly. Catecholamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline levels decreased (P<0.05). Progesterone increased, while follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and estradiol decreased (P<0.05). Recurrence rate was lower for TEAS than herbal treatment.
What it means for you
Electrical acupoint stimulation appeared more effective than herbal treatment for PMS and may work by changing hormone and neurotransmitter levels. The sample size is small and the comparison was to herbal treatment rather than no treatment or placebo, so more research is needed.
60
PMS patients in the trial
69%
TEAS effectiveness rate
3
consecutive months of treatment
About the study
- Original title
- Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation at Yongquan (KI-1) on Premenstrual Syndrome and Related Peripheral Neurotransmitters: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Authors
- Leiya Ma, Xia Gao, Benxu Ma et al.
- Journal
- Medical Acupuncture
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 60
- What was tested
- Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) at Yongquan point bilaterally vs Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal treatment
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1089/acu.2023.0026
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2026
Which traditional Chinese medicine treatments work best for PMS?
Review, 2017
Can combining different types of treatments help PMS more than using one approach alone?
Systematic review, 2014
Do acupuncture and herbal medicine help PMS or PMDD symptoms?
Systematic review, 2007
What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?
Randomised trial, 2003
What complementary and alternative medicines help with women's reproductive health issues?
Survey study, 2026
What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD?