Cheek acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine for female chronic pelvic pain: a retrospective study

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.03.012

Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 726-732.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.03.012

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Cheek acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine for female chronic pelvic pain: a retrospective study

SONG Ying¹, YOU Yalin², LIAO Yiru², HU Luodan², WANG Danna², NIE Guangning²()

¹ Department of Rehabilitation, Shunde Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shunde 528300, China
² Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, China

Received:2024-12-12 Accepted:2025-09-05 Online:2026-06-15 Published:2026-06-08
Contact: NIE Guangning, Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510120, China. guangningnie@gzucm.edu.cn,Telephone: +86-13724078380
Supported by:
Shunde District Competitive Support Talent Project: Clinical Study on Acupuncture Combined With Medicine to Regulate Leptin in Patients With Obese Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(SDRC2022008);Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Clinical Study of Modified Zexie Decoction Formula Granules and Decoction Pieces in the Treatment of Postmenopausal Metabolic Syndrome(2022A1515011651);Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation: Mechanism of Modified Zexie Decoction in Treating Postmenopausal Lipid Metabolism Disorder Based on the "Ovary-Gut" Axis and Farnesoid X Receptor Bile Acid Metabolism Pathway(2021A1515220139);State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine Research Foundation: Prospective Cohort Study on Long-term Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes of Dampness Syndrome in Menopausal Obesity(SZ2021KF06);Research Fund for Baijian Talents of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine: Mechanism of Bushen Jiangzhuo Therapy in Preventing and Treating Postmenopausal Lipid Metabolism Disorder by Regulating the "Ovary-gut" Axis Based on the Estrogen Receptor/ Farnesoid X Receptor-small Heterodimer Partner Pathway(BJ2022KY009)

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Abstract

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cheek acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine on chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in female patients.

METHODS: Female patients with CPP treated with cheek acupuncture (CA) and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) from January 2018 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an observation group receiving CA combined with CHM and a control group receiving only CHM. Baseline and follow-up assessments were conducted using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the McCormack scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) quality of life assessment questionnaire. Prognostic differences were analyzed by comparing pain recurrence rates during follow-up.

Baseline and follow-up assessments were conducted using the VAS, the McCormack scale, and the SF-36 quality of life assessment questionnaire. Prognostic differences were analyzed by comparing pain recurrence rates during follow-up.

RESULTS: A total of 255 patients with CPP were included, with 113 assigned to the observation group and 142 to the control group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, patients in the observation group showed significantly lower VAS scores and McCormack scale scores, as well as higher SF-36 scores, than the control group. Additionally, the treatment group had a lower recurrence rate during follow-up.

CONCLUSION: The combination of CA therapy and CHM shows high safety and efficacy, and a low CPP recurrence rate in women.

Key words: drugs, Chinese herbal, cheek acupuncture therapy, chronic pelvic pain, visual analog scale, quality of life

SONG Ying, YOU Yalin, LIAO Yiru, HU Luodan, WANG Danna, NIE Guangning. Cheek acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine for female chronic pelvic pain: a retrospective study[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026, 46(3): 726-732.

Figures/Tables 3

References 26.

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Item	Observation group (n = 113)	Control group (n = 142)	P value
Age (years)	37.1±9.4	38.6±7.8	0.177
Disease duration (years)	6.3±4.7	6.0±3.1	0.091
Treatment duration (weeks)	4.1±3.9	4.2±2.7	0.788
VAS score	7.1±1.2	6.8±1.4	0.761
McCormack score	9.4 ±2.9	9.0 ±2.3	0.156
SF-36 score
PF	63.7±10.7	63.3 ±8.3	0.286
RP	46.7±26.9	44.2±23.5	0.435
RE	42.2±24.7	44.3±25.7	0.506
BP	41.0±23.8	40.27±19.9	0.801
MH	46.2±5.4	45.7±4.6	0.389
VT	42.5±11.4	41.9±8.6	0.627
SF	47.1±12.7	47.9±15.9	0.651
GH	43.2±8.7	42.2±7.9	0.356
Disease classification [n (%)]
Endometriosis	23 (20.3)	30 (21.1)	0.95
Adenomyosis	15 (13.2)	17 (12.0)
Primary dysmenorrhea	34 (30)	38 (26.8)
Chronic pelvic inflammation	31 (27.4)	45 (31.7)
Other	10 (8.8)	12 (8.5)
Marital status [n (%)]			0.17
Unmarried	23 (20.4)	32 (22.5)
Married	81 (71.7)	107 (75.3)
Divorced	8 (7.1)	3 (2.1)
Widowed	1 (0.9)	0 (0)

Item	Observation group (n = 113)	Control group (n = 142)	P value
Age (years)	37.1±9.4	38.6±7.8	0.177
Disease duration (years)	6.3±4.7	6.0±3.1	0.091
Treatment duration (weeks)	4.1±3.9	4.2±2.7	0.788
VAS score	7.1±1.2	6.8±1.4	0.761
McCormack score	9.4 ±2.9	9.0 ±2.3	0.156
SF-36 score
PF	63.7±10.7	63.3 ±8.3	0.286
RP	46.7±26.9	44.2±23.5	0.435
RE	42.2±24.7	44.3±25.7	0.506
BP	41.0±23.8	40.27±19.9	0.801
MH	46.2±5.4	45.7±4.6	0.389
VT	42.5±11.4	41.9±8.6	0.627
SF	47.1±12.7	47.9±15.9	0.651
GH	43.2±8.7	42.2±7.9	0.356
Disease classification [n (%)]
Endometriosis	23 (20.3)	30 (21.1)	0.95
Adenomyosis	15 (13.2)	17 (12.0)
Primary dysmenorrhea	34 (30)	38 (26.8)
Chronic pelvic inflammation	31 (27.4)	45 (31.7)
Other	10 (8.8)	12 (8.5)
Marital status [n (%)]			0.17
Unmarried	23 (20.4)	32 (22.5)
Married	81 (71.7)	107 (75.3)
Divorced	8 (7.1)	3 (2.1)
Widowed	1 (0.9)	0 (0)

Outcome indicator	Time point	Observation group (n = 113)	Control groups (n = 142)	P value ^b
VAS score	Baseline	7.1±1.12	6.8±1.4	0.761
	after treatment	1.6±1.0^a	3.0±1.4^a	0.001
MC score	Baseline	9.4 ±2.9	9.0 ±2.3	0.156
	after treatment	0.4±1.0^a	3.0±1.2^a	0.001
SF-36 score
PF	Baseline	63.7±10.7	63.3 ±8.3	0.286
	after treatment	85.2±12.4^a	73.8±15.7^a	0.001
RP	Baseline	46.7±26.9	44.2±23.5	0.435
	after treatment	65.5±25.8^a	62.5±12.7^a	0.23
RE	Baseline	42.2±24.7	44.3±25.7	0.506
	after treatment	76.7±20.5^a	59.0±18.9^a	0.001
BP	Baseline	41.0±23.8	40.3±19.9	0.801
	after treatment	64.3±13.5^a	52.6±8.9^a	0.001
MH	Baseline	46.3±5.4	45.7±4.6	0.389
	after treatment	81.3±24.9^a	72.0±16.9^a	0.005
VT	Baseline	42.5±11.4	41.9±8.6	0.627
	after treatment	66.7±10.7^a	56.6±16. 5^a	0.001
SF	Baseline	47.1±12.7	47.9±15.9	0.651
	after treatment	64.3±15.9^a	67.1±11.7^a	0.11
GH	Baseline	43.2±8.7	42.2±7.9	0.356
	after treatment	74.2±12.4^a	66.0±10.8^a	0.001

Outcome indicator	Time point	Observation group (n = 113)	Control groups (n = 142)	P value ^b
VAS score	Baseline	7.1±1.12	6.8±1.4	0.761
	after treatment	1.6±1.0^a	3.0±1.4^a	0.001
MC score	Baseline	9.4 ±2.9	9.0 ±2.3	0.156
	after treatment	0.4±1.0^a	3.0±1.2^a	0.001
SF-36 score
PF	Baseline	63.7±10.7	63.3 ±8.3	0.286
	after treatment	85.2±12.4^a	73.8±15.7^a	0.001
RP	Baseline	46.7±26.9	44.2±23.5	0.435
	after treatment	65.5±25.8^a	62.5±12.7^a	0.23
RE	Baseline	42.2±24.7	44.3±25.7	0.506
	after treatment	76.7±20.5^a	59.0±18.9^a	0.001
BP	Baseline	41.0±23.8	40.3±19.9	0.801
	after treatment	64.3±13.5^a	52.6±8.9^a	0.001
MH	Baseline	46.3±5.4	45.7±4.6	0.389
	after treatment	81.3±24.9^a	72.0±16.9^a	0.005
VT	Baseline	42.5±11.4	41.9±8.6	0.627
	after treatment	66.7±10.7^a	56.6±16. 5^a	0.001
SF	Baseline	47.1±12.7	47.9±15.9	0.651
	after treatment	64.3±15.9^a	67.1±11.7^a	0.11
GH	Baseline	43.2±8.7	42.2±7.9	0.356
	after treatment	74.2±12.4^a	66.0±10.8^a	0.001

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References 26.

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