Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation at Yongquan (KI-1) on Premenstrual Syndrome and Related Peripheral Neurotransmitters: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: Excessive estrogen and insufficient progesterone lead to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Acupuncture can regulate estrogen balance. The mechanism of acupuncture on PMS is not well-known. Effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on Yongquan (KI-1) on PMS, and on and related peripheral neurotransmitters and pituitary-axis hormones, were examined Materials and Methods: Conducted in The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Binhai University, Qingdao, China, this randomized trial placed 60 patients with PMS in 2 groups (30 receiving TEAS on KI-1 bilaterally and 30 receiving Xiaoyao Pills, a Traditional Chines Medicine (TCM) herbal treatment). Signs and symptom scores (obtained at baseline and at the end of treatment) and hormone levels were compared. Stimulation for TEAS was applied on the 20th day of the menstrual cycle, once per day, until the onset of menstruation, for 3 consecutive months. Primary outcomes were pain reduction and improved daily life functions. Results: After 3 months, TEAS 69% effective and TCM herbal treatment group was 40.0% effective (P < 0.05). Severity of symptoms decreased (P < 0.05) as did catecholamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline levels (P < 0.05). Progesterone levels increased, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and estradiol levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05, respectively). At follow-up, the recurrence rate for TEAS was lower than for TCM herbal treatment (32.14% [9/28] versus 44.0% [11/25]; P < 0.05). Conclusions: TEAS on KI-1 bilaterally relieved PMS by regulating peripheral neurotransmitters and pituitary-axis hormones. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of TEAS for shorter treatment times, with larger sample sizes.