Positive Health Online

Abstract

TAYLOR and colleagues, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0606, USA, Diana.Taylor@nursing.ucsf.edu, measured the therapeutic effect of an acupressure brief in dysmenorrhea.

Background

Methodology

The acupressure brief (the Relief Brief) is fitted with latex foam pads exerting pressure on lower abdominal and lower back Chinese acupressure points known to relieve painful periods. The trial was randomized and controlled against conventional treatment for dysmenorrhea. 58 women were randomized into treatment and control groups. Pain intensity and worst pain, analgesic medication use, and adverse effects were measured at baseline and at two post-treatment menses.

Results

The consumption of analgesic medication dropped to one-third of baseline in the treatment group whilst remaining constant in the control group. 90% of women wearing the Relief Brief experienced at least 25% decrease in menstrual pain compared to 7% of women in the control group.

Conclusion

An acupressure brief is a safe and extremely efficient nonpharmacological treatment for painful periods. It may also serve as an adjuvant to analgesic medication in more severe cases of dysmenorrhea.

References

Taylor D, Miaskowski C, Kohn J. A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of an acupressure device (relief brief) for managing symptoms of dysmenorrhea. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 8 (3): 357-370, Jun 2002.