---
title: Can acupuncture effectively treat PMS? | Niyora
description: Possibly. Seven out of 8 controlled studies found acupuncture more effective than Western medicine or Chinese herbs for PMS. However, more research is needed
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/evaluation-of-clinical-therapeutic-effects-and-safety-of-acupuncture-treatment-2005/
---

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- Can acupuncture effectively treat PMS?

Randomised trial, 2005

# Can acupuncture effectively treat PMS?

Possibly. Seven out of 8 controlled studies found acupuncture more effective than Western medicine or Chinese herbs for PMS. However, more research is needed to confirm these results.

 Moderate study design

807 women across 8 controlled studies with PMS (study size range 61-225 per study)

## What they did

Systematic review searching Chinese and English databases (Cochrane Library, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI) and academic conference proceedings for controlled studies on acupuncture for PMS. Researchers identified 8 controlled studies involving 807 women total.

## What they found

Seven of the 8 studies showed that acupuncture was superior to other treatments (Western medicine or Chinese herbs) for treating PMS. Individual study sizes ranged from 61 to 225 participants.

## What it means for you

Acupuncture may help PMS symptoms, with most studies showing better results than standard treatments. The main limit is that the underlying studies were small to moderate in size, and the review authors call for more rigorous randomized controlled trials to confirm effectiveness and safety.

807

women total across 8 studies

7 of 8

studies favored acupuncture

61-225

participants per study (range)

## About the study

Original title [Evaluation of clinical therapeutic effects and safety of acupuncture treatment for premenstrual syndrome] Authors Yu JN, Liu BY, Liu ZS et al. Journal Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion Year 2005 Study design Randomised trial Participants 807 What was tested Acupuncture (various types) compared to Western medicine or Chinese herbal medicine Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309077/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16309077/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Acupuncture and acupressure](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-acupuncture/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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