The Australian research team investigated the effects of manual acupuncture and electro-acupuncture on patients with chronic dysmenorrhea (menstrual-related cramping and pain). All participants received a grand total of 12 acupuncture treatments.
Manual acupuncture group participants received tonification (bu) or sedation (xie) methods applied to the acupuncture needles during the 20–30-minute acupuncture sessions. For electroacupuncture participants, “two distal points were selected by the practitioner and a 2Hz/100Hz square wave pulse of 200ms duration was applied between each point for 20 minutes using an ITO ES-160 electroacupuncture machine.”
It is notable that the research team used this unit. We find it highly reliable and it offers a sweep mode in addition to the standard alternating current mode. While the compact ES-130 unit tends to be more popular with licensed acupuncturists, the larger and more sophisticated ES-160 offers added features, which may be of benefit to acupuncturists. Please note that the Healthcare Medicine Institute has no financial association with the manufacturer and there is no conflict of interest.
The researchers conclude, “This exploratory study suggests acupuncture administered over three menstrual cycles gave both statistically and clinically significant reductions in menstrual pain compared to baseline and persisted for 12 months….”
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