Effect of balanced cupping intervention in treatment of patients with primary dysmenorrhea differentiated as type of qi stagnation and blood stasis

Objective To explore the clinical effect of balanced cupping intervention in treatment of patients with primary dysmenorrhea differentiated as type of qi stagnation and blood stasis

Methods A total of 64 patients with primary dysmenorrhea differentiated as type of qi stagnation and blood stasis in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the research objects, and they were divided into observation group and control group according to the order of consultation and patients' wishes, with 32 cases in each group. The control group received routine health guidance for dysmenorrhea, while the observation group received balanced cupping intervention on the basis of the control group. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, dysmenorrhea symptom score, serum prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), estradiol (E₂), menstrual onset time, menstrual cycle, menstrual volume, and efficacy were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

Results There were significant differences in VAS scores during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstruation compared with those before intervention between the two groups (P<0.05); the VAS scores of the observation group during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstruation were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in dysmenorrhea symptom scores during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstruation with those before intervention between the two groups (P<0.05); the dysmenorrhea symptom score of the observation group during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstruation was significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in PGE₂ and E₂ levels during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstruation with those before intervention between the two groups (P<0.05). There were significant differences in PGE₂ and E₂ levels between the two groups during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd menstruation (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in menstrual cycle, menstrual duration and menstrual volume between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion Balanced cupping intervention has a good effect and high safety in the treatment of patients with primary dysmenorrhea differentiated as type of qi stagnation and blood stasis.