The Efficacy of Two Types of Acupuncture on Autonomic Nervous Activity and Quality of Life in Women With Dysmenorrhea.

Integrative medicine raises public's attention due to either mainstream or traditional medicine has its limitation. The topic "dysmenorrhea", with prevalence up to 50%, troubled many females with symptom as depression, reduced the quality of life; and even withdraw from daily activity. Clinically, gynecologists apply analgesic such as Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, and oral contraceptive pills or progestin as conventional therapy. As NSAIDs cause gastrointestinal discomfort, while hormone therapy leads to other concerns; some women now adopt acupuncture as an alternative therapy for its safety. Furthermore, laser acupuncture has been practiced in recent years for it integrates the meridian theory and laser therapy; hence there are also some positive research in academic field.Whether laser or traditional acupuncture is more effective is still under debate. Additionally, investigators had published that the theory of yin/yang (meridian) is compatible with autonomic nerve theory. As many women with dysmenorrhea suffered from insomnia, anxiety, convulsion of the uterine muscle, which are related to autonomic nerve dysfunction, investigators are intrigued to know whether the effect of acupuncture is related to adjusting autonomic nerve system. Investigators intend to investigate the efficacy of laser and manual acupuncture in dysmenorrhea, and whether their mechanism is germane to hormone alternation or autonomic nervous system adjustment. The points in this proposal are 1.evaluate the efficacy of manual/laser acupuncture in dysmenorrhea in respects of symptoms and quality of life 2. compare whether these types acupuncture will alter the prostaglandin or hormone and the relationship between with the efficacy. 3. evaluate whether the mechanism of manual and laser acupuncture is relevant to alternating the autonomic nerve activity and if not correspond to Yin-Yang theory.