A recent German study published in the February, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology confirms that acupuncture can relieve a woman of her menstrual pain!
In the study, 201 women were randomly assigned to acupuncture or no treatment sub-groups. All women had severe menstrual pain, severe cramps and generalized discomfort during her period. The majority of patients receiving acupuncture reported at least a 33 percent improvement in their pain level.
“Patients with chronic dysmenorrhea [menstrual pain] treated with acupuncture as an adjunct to routine care showed significant improvements in pain intensity and quality of life compared to patients who received routine care alone without the acupuncture” Dr. Claudia Witt of Charite University Medical Center in Berlin said.
This study is part of a large acupuncture research initiative of a group of social health insurance funds that provide coverage to approximately 10% of the German population.
“Our study showed that acupuncture was beneficial for women if offered as part of the health insurance system,” the researchers write in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Based on these findings, the researchers conclude that “acupuncture should be considered as a viable option in the management of patients who have menstrual pain.”