OBJECTIVES: Moxibustion has been a major method of Oriental Medicine for thousands of years in China and other Asian countries. Traditionally moxibustion has been use in some chronic diseases diagnosed as cold or yang-deficiency categories. In recent, some studies suggested that it can be enhance immune function and activate blood flow. Primary dysmenorrhea is defined that pain happening with the start of menstruation without any diseases. The major pathogen of primary dysmenorrheal is known as blood stagnation In Oriental Medicine. In this study, we wanted to investigate the effects of ceramic aromatic moxibustion on primary dysmenorrhea.

　　METHODS: A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted at the Oriental Hospital of Kyung Hee University in Seoul, KOREA, between early March to late September 2008. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Oriental Hospital of Kyung Hee University. We recruited 74 volunteers. The volunteers aged 18 years to 30 years were screened if they had 28-30 days regular menstrual cycle with severe dysmenorrheal (above 6 point with 10-point visual analogue scale) in the past 3 months. Moreover, they agreed to use acceptable contraception during the study and they had no severe gastrointestinal, gynecological or autoimmune disease, etc. They were provided written, informed consent, which included agreeing to take the moxibustion provided by the investigator. Finally 52 young women was enrolled in this study. We purchased the study moxibustion from a manufacturer with Good Manufacturing Practice. The participants received ceramic aromatic moxibustion or simple aromatic moxibustion for 2 months. They self-used the moxbistion on the acupuncture points, such as CV3, CV4, CV6 and both side SP6, once a day.

　　RESULTS: We compared the difference/change of VAS after 1 and 2 months later between 2 groups. Additionally we observed the difference/change of the skin temperature in lower abdomen/hands by thermolography. From this study, we could find very interesting results.