Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms can reduce quality of life and impair daily functioning. This study examined the effects of Korean hand acupuncture therapy (HAT) and hand moxibustion therapy (HMT) on symptom severity in Korean women with PMS. This quasi-experimental pilot study based on the khi, yin, yang, and the five elements theory used a nonequivalent control group pretest—posttest design. Experimental groups received 10 sessions of either HAT or HMT treatment. Outcome measures included menstrual symptom severity as measured with the Menstrual Symptom Severity List and skin temperature change measured with Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging. Both experimental groups had significantly reduced overall PMS symptom severity scores following therapy as compared to women in the control group. The HMT but not the HAT group showed improved flow of khi and balanced skin temperature in symmetric body areas. HAT and HMT may be effective strategies for women to reduce PMS symptoms.
Ahn, Y.M. (1993). The effect of seoam moxibustion on body. Seoul, South Korea: Eum Yang Mek Jin.
2.
The Association of Korean Oriental Medicine. (1995). Easy oriental medicine. Seoul, South Korea: Author.
3.
Chang, Y.S. (2003). Effect of koryo hand therapy on menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea in college students. Unpublished master's thesis, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea.
Dickerson, L.M., Mazyck, P.J., & Hunter, M.H. (2003). Premenstrual syndrome. American Family Physician, 67, 1743-1752.
6.
Endicott, J., & Harrison, W. (1990). The daily record of severity of problems. New York: New York State Psychiatric Institute.
7.
Golomb, L.M., Solidum, A., & Warren, M.P. (1998). Primary dysmennorrhea and physical activity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 30, 906-909.
8.
Helms, J.M. (1987). Acupuncture for the management of primary dysmenorrhea . Obstetrics & Gynecology, 69(1), 51-56.
9.
Institute of Science of Dong-Eui. (1993). Introduction to oriental medicine. Seoul, South Korea: Yeogang.
10.
Kim, J.M. (2000). Clinical application of infrared thermography: Focusing onto practical aspects. The Journal of the Korea Institute of Oriental Medical Diagnosis, 4(1), 32-42.
11.
Kim, S.O., & Cho, S.H. (2001). The effect of hand acupuncture therapy and moxibustion heat therapy on dysmenorrhea women. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, 7, 610-621.
12.
Lee, S.E., & Kwon, Y.E. (2002). A study on premenstrual syndrome, menstrual attitude, gender-role attitude and sex-role characteristics. Collected Papers of Kyung In, 2, 137-150.
13.
Lee, S.H. (2001). Premenstrual syndrome & premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine , 22, 761-770.
14.
Mitchell, E.S., Woods, N.F., & Lentz, M.J. (1992). Recognizing PMS when you see it: Criteria for PMS sample selection. Perimenstrual symptoms and perimenstrual syndromes. Seattle: University of Washington.
15.
Moon, C.K. (2003). The effect of hand acupunctures on subjective symptom of menstrual pain in middle school girls. Unpublished master's thesis, Changwon National University, Changwon , South Korea.
16.
Park, J.S., Woo, S.N., Yeo, H.J., & Kim, K.S. (2003). The effect of hand moxibustion therapy on knee joint pain, joint range of motion and discomfort during ADL in elderly people . Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing, 10, 244-253.
17.
Park, Y.H., Jeong, B.S., Kim, C.Y., & Lee, C. (2001). Prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and occupational function in a nurse group. Journal of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, 40, 832-841.
18.
Park, Y.J. (1999). The severity levels and patterns of perimenstrual symptoms among Korean women in relation to their ages. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, 5, 145-156.
19.
Shin, K.R., Kim, K.H., Kim, H.S., Kim, E.H., Lee, J.R., & Kim, J.H. (2004). The effect of hand moxibustion therapy on pain during menstruation. Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing , 16, 256-263.
20.
Shin, K.R., Kwak, S.A., Lee, J.B., & Yi, H.R. (2006). The effectiveness of hand acupuncture and moxibustion in decreasing pain and "coldness" in Korean women who have had hysterectomy: A pilot study. Applied Nursing Research, 19, 22-30.
21.
Steiner, M., & Born, L. (2000). Diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: An update. International Clinical Psychopharmacology , 15(Suppl. 3), S5-17.
22.
Thomas, K.J., MacPherson, H., Thorpe, L., Brazier, J., Fitter, M., Campbell, M.J., et al. (2006). Randomised controlled trial of a short course of traditional acupuncture compared with usual care for persistent non-specific low back pain. British Medical Journal, 23, 623-626.
23.
Uematsu, S., Edwin, D.H., Jankel, W.R., Kozikowski, J., & Trattner, M. (1988). Quantification of thermal asymmetry. Part I: normal values and reproducibility. Journal of Neurosurgery, 69, 552-555.
24.
Wood, N., Dery, M., & Most, E. (1982). Recollections of menarche, current menstrual attitude and peri-menstrual symptoms. Psychosomatic Medicine, 44, 285-297.
25.
Yoo, T.W. (1998). Koryo hand therapy. Seoul, South Korea: Eum Yang Mek Jin.
26.
Yoo, T.W. (2003). Koryo hand therapy researches. Seoul, South Korea: Eum Yang Mek Jin.
