An infrared thermographic analysis of the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220707.004

Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 825-832.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20220707.004

• Research Articles • Previous Articles Next Articles

An infrared thermographic analysis of the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea

FAN Xisheng¹, DU Xiaoyi²(), PAN Lijia³^,⁶, SONG Xiaodan¹, LIU Jun⁴^,⁶, ZHANG Juncha⁶, CHEN Hao¹, GAO Yayu¹, ZHANG Mingjian¹, SHI Xuliang⁵^,⁶, SHE Yanfen³^,⁶()

1 Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050091, China
2 Depeartment of TCM Pediatric, Shijiazhuang Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, China
3 Department of Experimental Acupuncture, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
4 Department of Rehabilitation, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
5 Department of Basic Teaching and Research of Acupuncture, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
6 Hebei International Joint Research Center for Dominant Diseases in Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Received:2021-05-19 Accepted:2021-08-20 Online:2022-10-15 Published:2022-07-07
Contact: DU Xiaoyi,SHE Yanfen
About author:Dr. DU Xiaoyi, Depeartment of TCM Pediatric, Shijiazhuang Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050051, China. 522815413@qq.com Telephone: +86-311-89926278
Prof. She Yanfen, Department of Experimental Acupuncture, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China. sheyanfen@163.com;
Supported by:
National Natural Science Foundation of China: on Acupoints on the Same Spinal Segment Different Meridians Reflecting Primary Dysmenorrhea Based on the Theory of One Source and Three Branches(81973755);Research on Variations of Biophysical Properties of Acupoints on Different Meridians with the Same Spinal Segments Based on Primary Dysmenorrhea(81573884);Based on the Study of Biophysical Characteristics of the Cytoplasm under Different Physiological States(81603542);Ministry of Science and Technology of China: International Cooperation on the Dominant Diseases of Acupuncture and Moxibustion based on the Guiding Principle of Acupoint Compatibility Classification(2019YFC171203);Graduate Innovation Funding Project of Hebei Province: Study on the Mechanism of Acupoint Specific Reaction in Different Pathological States of Uterus(XCXZZBS2021013)

Abstract

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) by comparing infrared radiation temperatures between acupoints and non-acupoints.

METHODS: We tested 10 acupoints of every woman with PD and healthy subjects on premenstrual, menstrual, and postmenstrual days using an infrared imaging device. The primary outcome was the absolute value of body surface temperature difference (AVTD) between the left and right sides of the same testing point.

RESULTS: A total of 58 PD patients and 57 healthy volunteers completed the test from May 2016 to May 2017. Compared with the healthy group, we observed a significant reduction and increase in the AVTD in Taichong (LR3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6), respectively, during menstrual days in the PD group (P = 0.01; P = 0.04); while during postmenstrual days, all AVTDs of Shuiquan (KI5), Diji (SP8), and Xuehai (SP10) were diminished in the PD group (P = 0.01; P = 0.03; P = 0.01, respectively). No significant differences in AVTD were detected at any other points or testing times.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the healthy group, the AVTDs of Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shuiquan (KI5), Diji (SP8), and Xuehai (SP10) at menstruation-relevant points of PD patients were sensitized, providing a reference for the selection of acupoints in the treatment of PD.

Key words: dysmenorrhea, menstruation, infrared thermal imaging, acupoint sensitization, specific acupoints

FAN Xisheng, DU Xiaoyi, PAN Lijia, SONG Xiaodan, LIU Jun, ZHANG Juncha, CHEN Hao, GAO Yayu, ZHANG Mingjian, SHI Xuliang, SHE Yanfen. An infrared thermographic analysis of the sensitization acupoints of women with primary dysmenorrhea[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022, 42(5): 825-832.

Figures/Tables 6

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Item	Group A (healthy group) (n = 57)	Group B (PD group) (n = 59)	P value
Age (years)	21.14±2.11	20.95±1.82	0.56
Age at menarche (years)	13.65±1.17	13.40±0.95	0.26
Duration of menstrual cycle (days)	29.51±1.98	29.34±1.36	0.67
Body temperature (the day before menses onset) (℃)	36.67±0.30	36.69±0.38	0.70
Body temperature (first day of menstrual period) (℃)	36.65±0.27	36.60±0.33	0.39
Body temperature (third day after menstrual period) (℃)	36.64±0.26	36.25±2.71	0.28

Item	Group A (healthy group) (n = 57)	Group B (PD group) (n = 59)	P value
Age (years)	21.14±2.11	20.95±1.82	0.56
Age at menarche (years)	13.65±1.17	13.40±0.95	0.26
Duration of menstrual cycle (days)	29.51±1.98	29.34±1.36	0.67
Body temperature (the day before menses onset) (℃)	36.67±0.30	36.69±0.38	0.70
Body temperature (first day of menstrual period) (℃)	36.65±0.27	36.60±0.33	0.39
Body temperature (third day after menstrual period) (℃)	36.64±0.26	36.25±2.71	0.28

Point	Group A1	Group A2	Group A3	Group B1	Group B2	Group B3	P^B¹^-A1 value	P^B2-A2value	P^B3-A3value
Point	(n = 57)	(n = 57)	(n = 57)	(n = 58)	(n = 58)	(n = 58)	P^B¹^-A1 value	P^B2-A2value	P^B3-A3value
Xuehai (SP10)	0.27 (0.13, 0.52)	0.22 (0.09, 0.51)	0.39 (0.21, 0.62)	0.24 (0.11, 0.45)	0.30 (0.09, 0.47)	0.22 (0.09, 0.51)	0.55	0.23	0.01^a
Diji (SP8)	0.30 (0.16, 0.51)	0.27 (0.11, 0.45)	0.37 (0.17, 0.64)	0.34 (0.15, 0.60)	0.26 (0.32, 0.53)	0.27 (0.11, 0.45)	0.36	0.08	0.03^a
Zhongdu (LR6)	0.20 (0.11, 0.36)	0.23 (0.11, 0.39)	0.21 (0.07, 0.45)	0.22 (0.11, 0.46)	0.26 (0.17, 0.45)	0.23 (0.11, 0.39)	0.5	0.32	0.8
Shuiquan (KI5)	0.30 (0.13, 0.56)	0.25 (0.12, 0.52)	0.26 (0.15, 0.51)	0.34 (0.18, 0.64)	0.38 (0.20, 0.66)	0.25 (0.12, 0.52)	0.28	0.57	0.01^a
Sanyinjiao (SP6)	0.36 (0.17, 0.52)	0.33 (0.13, 0.57)	0.41 (0.14, 0.68)	0.40 (0.28, 0.65)	0.37 (0.15, 0.72)	0.33 (0.13, 0.57)	0.48	0.04^a	0.95
Xuanzhong (GB39)	0.22 (0.10, 0.40)	0.31 (0.17, 0.55)	0.36 (0.13, 0.55)	0.30 (0.10, 0.57)	0.36 (0.12, 0.62)	0.31 (0.17, 0.55)	0.41	0.64	0.21
Non acupoint (NA)	0.35 (0.14, 0.71)	0.28 (0.15, 0.63)	0.44 (0.30, 0.81)	0.47 (0.20, 0.99)	0.41 (0.15, 0.93)	0.28 (0.15, 0.63)	0.15	0.37	0.86
Taixi (KI3)	0.40 (0.19, 0.59)	0.30 (0.13, 0.53)	0.33 (0.15, 0.60)	0.47 (0.28, 0.84)	0.38 (0.14, 0.70)	0.30 (0.13, 0.53)	0.06	0.48	0.57
Taibai (SP3)	0.45 (0.16, 0.86)	0.35 (0.14, 0.70)	0.43 (0.15, 0.81)	0.42 (0.23, 0.66)	0.50 (0.16, 1.10)	0.35 (0.14, 0.70)	0.96	0.62	0.43
Taichong (LR3)	0.30 (0.15, 0.63)	0.40 (0.20, 0.66)	0.31 (0.12, 0.65)	0.20 (0.36, 0.75)	0.09 (0.32, 0.50)	0.40 (0.19, 0.66)	0.15	0.01^a	0.29

Point	Group A1	Group A2	Group A3	Group B1	Group B2	Group B3	P^B¹^-A1 value	P^B2-A2value	P^B3-A3value
Point	(n = 57)	(n = 57)	(n = 57)	(n = 58)	(n = 58)	(n = 58)	P^B¹^-A1 value	P^B2-A2value	P^B3-A3value
Xuehai (SP10)	0.27 (0.13, 0.52)	0.22 (0.09, 0.51)	0.39 (0.21, 0.62)	0.24 (0.11, 0.45)	0.30 (0.09, 0.47)	0.22 (0.09, 0.51)	0.55	0.23	0.01^a
Diji (SP8)	0.30 (0.16, 0.51)	0.27 (0.11, 0.45)	0.37 (0.17, 0.64)	0.34 (0.15, 0.60)	0.26 (0.32, 0.53)	0.27 (0.11, 0.45)	0.36	0.08	0.03^a
Zhongdu (LR6)	0.20 (0.11, 0.36)	0.23 (0.11, 0.39)	0.21 (0.07, 0.45)	0.22 (0.11, 0.46)	0.26 (0.17, 0.45)	0.23 (0.11, 0.39)	0.5	0.32	0.8
Shuiquan (KI5)	0.30 (0.13, 0.56)	0.25 (0.12, 0.52)	0.26 (0.15, 0.51)	0.34 (0.18, 0.64)	0.38 (0.20, 0.66)	0.25 (0.12, 0.52)	0.28	0.57	0.01^a
Sanyinjiao (SP6)	0.36 (0.17, 0.52)	0.33 (0.13, 0.57)	0.41 (0.14, 0.68)	0.40 (0.28, 0.65)	0.37 (0.15, 0.72)	0.33 (0.13, 0.57)	0.48	0.04^a	0.95
Xuanzhong (GB39)	0.22 (0.10, 0.40)	0.31 (0.17, 0.55)	0.36 (0.13, 0.55)	0.30 (0.10, 0.57)	0.36 (0.12, 0.62)	0.31 (0.17, 0.55)	0.41	0.64	0.21
Non acupoint (NA)	0.35 (0.14, 0.71)	0.28 (0.15, 0.63)	0.44 (0.30, 0.81)	0.47 (0.20, 0.99)	0.41 (0.15, 0.93)	0.28 (0.15, 0.63)	0.15	0.37	0.86
Taixi (KI3)	0.40 (0.19, 0.59)	0.30 (0.13, 0.53)	0.33 (0.15, 0.60)	0.47 (0.28, 0.84)	0.38 (0.14, 0.70)	0.30 (0.13, 0.53)	0.06	0.48	0.57
Taibai (SP3)	0.45 (0.16, 0.86)	0.35 (0.14, 0.70)	0.43 (0.15, 0.81)	0.42 (0.23, 0.66)	0.50 (0.16, 1.10)	0.35 (0.14, 0.70)	0.96	0.62	0.43
Taichong (LR3)	0.30 (0.15, 0.63)	0.40 (0.20, 0.66)	0.31 (0.12, 0.65)	0.20 (0.36, 0.75)	0.09 (0.32, 0.50)	0.40 (0.19, 0.66)	0.15	0.01^a	0.29

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References 42.

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