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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2017, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (02): 220-228.

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Comparative study on skin temperature response to menstruation at acupuncture points in healthy volunteers and primary dysmenorrhea patients

She Yanfen, Ma Liangxiao, Zhu Jiang, Qi Conghui, Wang Yanxia, Tang Ling, Li Chunhua, Yuan Hongwen, Liu Yuqi, Song Jiashan   

  1. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine;School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina,Hebei University of Chinese Medicine;Department of Acupuncture,Hebei Provincial General Hospital;Department of Gynecology,Dong Zhi Men Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine;Department of Acupuncture and Physiotherapy,Beijing Electric Power Hospital,Capital Medical University;School of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Capital Medical University;Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine,China Academy of Chinese Medical Science;Department of Acupuncture,The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine;
  • Accepted:2017-04-15 Online:2017-04-15 Published:2022-04-04
  • Supported by:
    Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)-the Effect of De Qi on Acupoint Specific Effect Based on Meridians and its Characteristics and Molecular Response Mechanisms(No.2012CB518506), Research on Acupoint Specificity in Regulating Uterus(No.2006CB504503), National Natural Science Foundation of China-Research on Variations of Biophysical Properties of Acupoints on Different Meridians with the Same Spinal Segments Based on Primary Dysmenorrhea(No.81573884)

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Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To assess skin temperature response to menstruation at acupuncture points in primary dysmenorrhea(PD) patients and healthy volunteers so as to explore acupuncture point specificity in reflecting diseases in the light of skin temperature.METHODS:Fifty-two PD patients and 49 healthy volunteers were recruited.Skin temperature measurements were performed with a skin temperature assessment device at 10 points.Absolute difference between skin temperature of the same point on the left and right side is used as main outcome measure.RESULTS:On the first day of menstruation, when menstrual pain attacking in PD patients, a significant increase in skin temperature difference was detected at Taixi(KI 3) compared with the healthy group(P < 0.01).A significant reduction in skin temperature difference was detected at Taixi(KI 3) in the first day of menstruation compared with those values in the third day after menstruation(P < 0.01)in the healthy group.On the third day after menstruation, a significant reduction in skin temperature difference was found at Zhongdu(LR 6) in PD group compared with the healthy group(P < 0.05).No significant differences of skin temperature were detected at other points(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION:The skin temperature difference at menstruation-relevant points in PD patients did not all change significantly more than those in women without PD.Significant difference was only found in Taixi(KI 3), the Yuan-source point of Kidney meridian.

Key words: Dysmenorrhea, Menstruation, Skin temperature, Point LR 6(Zhongdu), Point KI 3(Taixi), Kidney meridian, Comparative study

Cite this article

She Yanfen, Ma Liangxiao, Zhu Jiang, Qi Conghui, Wang Yanxia, Tang Ling, Li Chunhua, Yuan Hongwen, Liu Yuqi, Song Jiashan. Comparative study on skin temperature response to menstruation at acupuncture points in healthy volunteers and primary dysmenorrhea patients[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2017, 37(02): 220-228.