Warm moxibustion and skin scraping in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in high-altitude and extremely cold regions

SUN Congyan; MA Yue; YU Yanbo; LIU Chunzi; GUO Yingjin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2097-1753.2025.03.011

Abstract：Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of warm moxibustion and skin scraping(gua sha)against primary dysmenorrhea in high-altitude and extremely cold areas,and to recommend a better treatment for primary dysmenorrhea in young women in these areas.Methods Sixty cases of primary dysmenorrhea collected from high-altitude and extremely cold areas were divided into the observation group and control group by random number table method,with 30 cases in each.The observation group received the warm moxibustion and skin scraping therapy while the control group was treated with ibuprofen extended-release capsules.The patients in both groups were treated for three menstrual cycles and followed up for another 3 months.The clinical efficacy,the Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale(CMSS)scores,Numerical Rating Scale(NRS)scores,and pressure pain thresholds at different sites were compared between the two groups before treatment and at months 1,2,3 and 6 after treatment.Results At the 6th month,the total effective rate of the observation and control groups was 63.33％ and 20.00％,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant(x2=11.589,P=0.001).The dynamics were compared between the 2 groups at different time points.The CMSS scores were statistically significant at months 3 and 6(P＜0.001,=0.025)while the NRS scores were of statistical significance at months 1 and 6(P=0.008,＜0.001).The pressure pain threshold scores for the left lumbar vertebrae,right lumbar vertebrae,left rectus abdominis muscle and right rectus abdominis muscle were statistically significant at month 6 in the 2 groups(P＜0.001,＜0.001,＜0.001,=0.001).After treatment,the differences in CMSS scores,NRS scores,and pressure pain threshold scores of the left side of the lumbar spine,the right side of the lumbar spine,the left side of the rectus abdominis muscle,and the right side of the rectus abdominis muscle were statistically significant in the observation group at months 1,2,3 and 6(all P＜0.05),but at months 1,2 and 3 in the control group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The efficacy of the warm moxibustion and skin scraping therapy against primary dysmenorrhea in young women in high-altitude and extremely cold areas is definite.This therapy is environmentally-friendly,safe,user-friendly,and better than ibuprofen interventions in terms of the sustainability of the effect.