Clinical Study On The Treatment Of Dysmenorrhea With Qi Stagnation And Blood Stasis By Deeply Needling On Baliao Points

Objective:-To compare the different Baliao acupoints plus traditional point selection for the treatment of dysmenorrhea due to Qi stagnation and blood stasis.-To summarise in overseas clinical practice;the accuracy and the positioning method of Baliao acupoints,the direction,angle and depth,in the treatment of dysmenorrhea of qi stagnation and blood stasis-To assess whether its usage is suitable for overseas TCM in treating dysmenorrhea.Methods:1.Theoretical research:Consulted ancient documents such as "Huang Di Nei Jing".Used databases such as "CNKI","Google Scholar" and "PubMed" to search Chinese and English documents,with keywords including:Baliao,Shangliao,Ciliao,Zhongliao,Xialiao,BL32,BL34,sacrum,posterior sacral foramen,sacral nerve,stagnation of Qi stagnation and blood stasis,dysmenorrhea,primary dysmenorrhea,secondary dysmenorrhea,acupuncture treatment,etc.2.Clinical study:In my own TCM clinic,a total of 65 patients with dysmenorrhea of Qi stagnation and blood stasis were selected and 60 completed the study.They were randomly divided into a control group(30 patients)and a treatment group(30 patients).The control group was given traditional acupuncture at the points of Guanyuan,Sanyinjiao,Diji,Qihai,Xuehai,Ganshu and Shenshu.The treatment group,had traditional acupuncture points plus Baliao points:Ciliao,Zhongliao,and Xiaoliao.Each treatment consisted of 60 minutes(30 minutes on the ventral surface and 30 minutes on the dorsal surface),once a week.The efficacy was assessed after 15 treatments.Both groups of patients used TCM syndrome scores,VAS scores,with TCM symptom efficacy as the main observation indicators,and used the Measure Your Medical Outcomes Profile(MYMOP)which is commonly used in overseas TCM studies to investigate patient satisfaction with the treatment and the degree of recovery from the disease.3.A cognitive survey was designed in accordance with the needs of the research project;"Questionnaire on the treatment of gynaecological diseases with Baliao acupoint by overseas TCM practitioners".Firstly,several TCM and acupuncture practitioners with different TCM education and overseas backgrounds were invited to conduct a pre-test.Then a number of Chinese acupuncturists in the UK and overseas TCM practitioners were invited to discuss it.Finally,a 12-question questionnaire was formed,which was distributed and the results were collected at multiple international conferences and TCM seminars in the UK.Results:1.Theoretical research:TCM already has a long history in the treatment of gynaecological diseases including dysmenorrhea using Baliao acupoint.Now used in combination with modern medical technology,the positioning and acupuncture technique of Baliao acupoint are becoming clearer and more precise.Dysmenorrhea is a commonly seen clinical symptom in overseas TCM practice.With Qi stagnation and blood stasis being the most common,including primary and secondary dysmenorrhea.At present,there are no clinical research studies on the use of Baliao acupoints to treat dysmenorrhea overseas.2.Cognitive survey:The questionnaire on the use of Baliao acupoints in the treatment of gynaecological diseases by overseas TCM practitioners showed that:practitioners with 0-3 years’experience in treating gynaecological diseases with clinical acupuncture,had used Baliao points very minimally.Practitioners who have been engaged in clinical acupuncture for 4-10 years have a low usage rate of Baliao acupoint,and they do not have a sufficient understanding of the depth and angle of penetration for Baliao acupoint.Practitioners who have been engaged in clinical acupuncture for 11-20 years have disagreements on whether Baliao point can be used to treat gynaecological diseases,also if used,the depth of needle penetration depth of Baliao point is shallow.Most overseas Chinese medicine practitioners who have been engaged in clinical acupuncture for more than 20 years have their own independent clinics.Among the types of diseases usually treated:gynaecological diseases account for 24%-30%.However,the frequency of using Baliao acupoints to treat other diseases is relatively low.Although the needle insertion angle and direction are correct and higher than other groups,the needle insertion is shallow,more emphasis is placed on the localised needle feeling,also electric acupuncture is often used.3.Clinical study:TCM syndrome scores:the comparison of TCM symptoms between the control group and the treatment group before and after treatment(within the group)P values are all less than 0.05,with both having significant differences.Between the two groups VAS score changes:there are significant differences between the control group and the treatment group before and after treatment.The comparison of VAS scores between the control group and the treatment group after treatment P=<0.05,there is a significant differenceThe efficacy of TCM syndromes:the total effective rate of the treatment group after 15sessions is 93.33%,and the total effective rate of the control group is 80.00%.Comparison of the efficacy of TCM syndromes of the control group and the treatment group P=<0.05,thus has a significant difference.MYMOP:after 15 treatments,the overall physical conditions of patients were improved,with the rate of secondary symptoms,which choose by patients themselves,of improving the most in the treatment group.Conclusion:In this study,Baliao acupoints were used to treat dysmenorrhea,appropriate positioning methods and acupuncture methods were selected according to the body type of Westerners,compared with traditional acupoint selection.There are significant differences in improvement of clinical symptoms of patients with dysmenorrhea,qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome,patient satisfaction with treatment,and recovery from disease.Thus,is worth promoting in overseas TCM practice.This study has also enriched the depth and breadth of the research on Baliao acupoints.The questionnaire on using Baliao acupoints in the treatment of gynaecological diseases by overseas TCM doctors showed that the understanding of Baliao acupoints and the treatment of gynaecological diseases by Baliao acupoints by overseas TCM doctors is generally low and needs further improvements.