Warm Acupuncture at Waist Jiaji for Treating Primary Dysmenorrhea: 30 Cases
**[CLC]** R271.11 +3 R264.3
**[Code]** A
**[Article Number]** 1008-8164 (2002) 03-0058
Primary dysmenorrhea, also known as functional dysmenorrhea, is more common in unmarried or nulliparous women and involves no obvious organic changes in the female genital organs, presenting with lower abdominal and lumbosacral pain. Severe cases may be associated with headache, nausea, vomiting, or fainting, occurring during the menstrual cycle. From January 1996 to March 1999, the author used warm acupuncture at the waist Jiaji points and achieved a more satisfactory outcome.
The clinical data of 30 patients with dysmenorrhea were collected, all from a rehabilitation clinic. Among them, there were 20 students, cadres, workers, and farmers; aged between 16 and 32 years old; duration ranging from 2 to 15 years; 23 were unmarried, and 7 were married; 20 experienced premenstrual abdominal pain, 8 had mixed abdominal pain.
For treatment, the waist Jiaji points (located 1.5 cm lateral to the spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae 1 to 5) were selected. Needles 5 cm long (No. 28) were used, inserted bilaterally into the lumbar Jiaji points to a depth of 3 cm, using reinforcing-reducing techniques so that the needle sensation radiated toward the lower abdomen. Moxa sticks 1.5 cm long were placed on the needle handles and ignited, ensuring the heat was tolerable for the patient. After burning, another 1.5 cm moxa stick was placed and reignited, leaving the needles in place for 30 minutes.
Treatment was administered one week before the onset of menstrual cramps, once daily. Treatment continued for one week post-menstruation, with six or twelve treatments per menstrual cycle constituting one course. Among the 30 treated patients, 15 experienced complete relief of pain without recurrence over three consecutive menstrual cycles; 14 showed alleviation of pain over three menstrual cycles; 1 case showed no improvement, resulting in a total efficacy rate of 96.7%.
**Case Example:** A 19-year-old unmarried female laborer was diagnosed in March 1999. She experienced menstrual period or peri-menstrual pain, accompanied by back pain, nausea, vomiting, and cold extremities. Despite various ineffective treatments, her pain persisted. Upon gynecological examination, no organic disease was found, leading to a diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea. Treatment involved inserting No. 28 needles, 5 cm long, bilaterally into the lumbar Jiaji points to a depth of about 3 cm, using reinforcing-reducing techniques to ensure the needle sensation radiated toward the lower abdomen. Two rounds of moxa sticks, each 5 cm long, were burned on the needle handles, maintaining the heat at a tolerable level for 30 minutes. After two courses of treatment, her symptoms disappeared, and she remained free of recurrence after a one-year follow-up.
**Discussion:** According to "Jing Yue Quan Shu" on the regulation of women's health, it states: "Deficiency can arise from blood deficiency or qi deficiency... but whether real or virtual, filling and passing must be considered." The Du, Chong, and Ren meridians, along with red veins, form a consistent ridge line extending inward from the lower abdomen to the back, connected by the pulse of the Du channel, encircling the waist. Thus, the red veins and Rendu are related to the same qi and Jiaji points. Acupuncture at the waist Jiaji points regulates the Chong and Rendu zones, managing both qi and blood effectively in clinical practice. Moxibustion warms the blood and qi meridians. Warm acupuncture combines the dual effects of acupuncture and moxibustion. The Jiaji points lie within the intertransverse ligaments and muscles, with corresponding posterior branches of spinal nerves and their accompanying arteries and venous plexuses distributed around each hole. This results in strong needle sensations, good efficacy, safety, and ease of use, making it worthy of promotion.
**[Received: April 10, 2002]**