Insights & Discussion
Our findings suggest that acupressure at the SP6 acupoint may provide more effective pain relief than that of control treatment.
This is the first systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture or acupressure at the SP6 acupoint for relieving pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea. Our findings suggest that acupuncture at the SP6 acupoint may not be more effective than acupuncture at an unrelated (GB39) acupoint for the relief of dysmenorrhea-associated pain (assessed using a VAS). In contrast, our findings suggest that acupressure at the SP6 acupoint may provide more effective relief from dysmenorrhea-associated pain than control interventions.
Clearly, there is a need for high-quality, randomized controlled trials to clarify the effectiveness of acupuncture/acupressure at the SP6 acupoint for the treatment of pain resulting from primary dysmenorrhea.
Discover Related Insights
SP6 acupressure's effectiveness for primary dysmenorrhea relief, indicating trained personnel-administered acupressure reduced pain immediately and up to 3 hours post-intervention
2016 Complementary Therapies in Medicine Effectiveness of SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupressure for relief of primary dysmenorrhea symptoms: A systematic review with meta- and sensitivity analyses Abaraogu UO, Igwe SE, Tabansi-Ochiogu CS
Systematic Review Period Pain SP6
The review initially identified 72 potential studies, but after eliminating duplicates and conducting screenings, only 13 studies were considered for inclusion. The review is the most extensive to date on SP6 acupressure for primary dysmenorrhea (PD), indicating its effectiveness when administered by trained personnel for immediate pain relief, reduction of anxiety, and potential general health improvement. However, the evidence remains limited and mostly consists of low-quality trials. Patient-administered acupressure might be beneficial with extended monthly application, though high-quality trials are required for such recommendations. The study highlights the need for future trials to specify diagnostic criteria for PD, given the lack of clarity in the included studies. Despite limitations, the findings suggest that self-administered acupressure holds promise for relieving PD symptoms.