Research Publications on Sanyinjiao Acupressure for Menstrual Comfort
Across several studies, acupressure, particularly at the Sanyinjiao (SP6) point, has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the severity of primary dysmenorrhea. These findings highlight acupressure as a cost-effective, non-pharmacological method for managing menstrual pain.
Effect of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on primary dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial; Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2010; Link
This study evaluated the impact of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on alleviating primary dysmenorrhea among 86 student participants. The study divided participants into two groups: one receiving genuine acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point and the other receiving sham acupressure as a control. The severity of dysmenorrhea was measured before the intervention, then 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after the intervention, with data analysis performed using SPSS. Initially, both groups experienced a decrease in dysmenorrhea severity right after the intervention during their first menstrual cycle, though the difference was not statistically significant. However, as time progressed (30 minutes to 3 hours post-intervention), the study group reported a more significant reduction in pain than the control group, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). This pattern of significant pain reduction in the study group compared to the control group persisted into the second menstrual cycle at all evaluated time points after the intervention. The findings suggest that acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point is a viable, cost-effective, and efficient method for reducing the severity of primary dysmenorrhea.
Effectiveness of SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupressure for relief of primary dysmenorrhea symptoms: A systematic review with meta- and sensitivity analyses; Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2016; Link
This review evaluated the effectiveness of SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupressure for relieving primary dysmenorrhea (PD) symptoms, involving 461 participants across six studies. The analysis found that professional application of SP6 acupressure significantly reduced pain intensity immediately and up to three hours post-treatment. However, self-administered acupressure required multiple sessions over several months to reduce pain. Despite promising results, the studies were generally of low quality with a high risk of bias, highlighting the need for high-quality research before making definitive recommendations.
Effects of acupressure on menstrual distress in adolescent girls: a comparison between Hegu-Sanyinjiao matched points and Hegu, Zusanli single point; Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2010; Link
The study compares the effects of acupressure at Hegu, Sanyinjiao, and Zusanli points on menstrual distress, pain, and anxiety in adolescents with primary dysmenorrhea. It was a single-blind randomized experimental study involving 134 participants. Results showed that acupressure at Hegu and Sanyinjiao matched points significantly reduced pain, distress, and anxiety, while Hegu alone also reduced pain. Zusanli point acupressure showed no significant benefits. The study concludes acupressure, especially at Hegu and Sanyinjiao points, is an effective non-pharmacological treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.
Acupuncture or Acupressure at the Sanyinjiao (SP6) Acupoint for the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Meta-Analysis; Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013; Link
The findings suggest that acupressure at the SP6 acupoint may provide more effective pain relief than that of control treatment.
The Acupressure Effect on Hegu Points and Sanyinjio Points on Reducing the Level of Menstruation Pain.; The 2nd Virtual Gorontalo International Nursing Conference, 2021; Link
This study investigates the efficacy of acupressure, a Chinese medical technique that applies pressure to specific body points, in alleviating menstrual pain without using pharmaceuticals. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure uses fingers or blunt objects instead of needles. Focusing on the Hegu and Sanyinjiao points, the research employs a quasi-experimental design with 60 participants from SMP AL-MIFTAH 2 Karang Penang, selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria from a total of 97. The study measures dysmenorrhea pain levels using the NRS pain scale and analyzes the data with Paired Sample T-Test and Independent Sample T-Test, setting a significance level at α ≤ 0.05. Results indicate a significant reduction in menstrual pain intensity in both acupressure groups: from 5.53 to 3.00 in the Hegu group, and from 5.47 to 2.13 in the Sanyinjiao group. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups' effectiveness in pain reduction. The study concludes that acupressure at both Hegu and Sanyinjiao points effectively reduces dysmenorrhea, suggesting a viable non-pharmacological treatment option for menstrual pain.