A randomized clinical trial of the efficacy of applying a simple acupressure protocol to the Taichong point in relieving dysmenorrhea

Objective: To examine whether applying a simple acupressure protocol to the Taichong point is effective in relieving dysmenorrhea. Methods: In this single-blind trial 194 students with dysmenorrhea were randomized to receive acupressure 5 days before menstruation for 3 months on either the Taichong or a placebo point. The severity of dysmenorrhea was assessed in the first and last of the 4 study cycles using the Andersch and Milsom scale. The �2 test, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for data analysis. Results: The difference in dysmenorrhea severity between the 2 groups was not significant in the first cycle but it was significant in the fourth cycle (U = 2377.00, P < 0.001), and the decrease in dysmenorrhea severity was also significant in the study group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Applying a simple pressure protocol to the Taichong acupoint was an effective and inexpensive way of decreasing the severity of dysmenorrhea. © 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics