Heat sensitive moxibustion plus herbal hot compress for primary dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of heat sensitive moxibustion plus herbal hot compress for primary dysmenorrhea. Methods Ninety patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly allocated to a treatment and a control group, with 45 patients in each group. The treatment group was treated with heat sensitive moxibustion plus herbal hot compress, and the control group received ibuprofen (slow-release capsule) for three menstrual cycles. Results At the end of the first menstrual cycle, the total instant effective rate in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (95.6% vs. 82.2%; χ2=4.050, P<0.05); at the end of the third menstrual cycle, healing rate (66.7% vs. 35.6%; χ2=8.720, P<0.05), total effective rate (97.8% vs. 80.0%; χ2=7.200, P<0.05) in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group; at 6 months follow-up, the relapse rate in the treatment group were significantly lower than that in the control group (6.7% vs. 43.8%; χ2=4.050, P<0.05). Conclusion Heat sensitive moxibustion plus herbal hot compress is a effective approach for primary dysmenorrhea. Key words: Primary dysmenorrhea; Moxibustion; Hot Compress; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ibuprofen; Treatment Outcome