OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Siguan points with Qinglong Baizei method on primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and to study the mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty cases of PD were zandomly divided into group A, group B and group C, 60 cases in each group. Group A were treated by acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3) with Qinglong Baiwei method; group B were treated by routine acupuncture with Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ciliao (BL 32) selected as main points; and group C were treated by oral administration of Yueyueshu Decoction. After treatment of 3 months, the therapeutic effects were analyzed, and changes of hemorrheological indexes and prostaglandin level were observed.

RESULTSThe cured rate and the total effective rate were 75.0% and 100.0% in group A, 60.0% and 95.0% in group B, and 25.0% and 90.0% in group C, respec tively, group A and B being significantly better than group C (P < 0.01). And the analgesic effects within 30 min of treatment in both group A and group B were significantly better than that in group C (P < 0.01), and that in group A was significantly better than that in group B (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Siguan points with Qinglong Baiwei method has a significant therapeutic effect on primary dysmenorrhea. The possible mechanism is to relieve pain by improving blood circulation and inhibiting production of prostaglandin.