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Table 1 Details of the acupoints used in the verum acupuncture group

From: Manual acupuncture versus sham acupuncture and usual care for the prevention of primary dysmenorrhea (PD): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Acupoints (standard abbreviation/Chinese nomenclature)

Location

Indication

Insertion depth (cun*)

RN4/Guanyuan

On the anterior midline, 3 cuna below the umbilicus

Coordinates Chong and conception vessels

1 to 1.5

SP6/Sanyinjiao

3 cun directly above the tip of the medial malleolus

Nourishes kidney and liver yin

1 to 1.5

EX-CA1/Zigong

4 cun below the umbilicus and 3 cun lateral to the anterior midline

Regulates the menstrual cycle and relief menstrual pain

0.8 to 1.2

SP10/Xuehai

2 cun above the upper border of the medial patella when the knee is fixed

Activates blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis

1 to 1.5

ST36/Zusanli

One-finger width lateral to the anterior border of the tibia and 3 cun directly below the lateral depression of the patellar ligament

Nourishes the spleen and stomach and coordinates qi and blood

1 to 2

SP8/Diji

On the line joining the tip of the medial malleolus and posteroinferior to the medial condyle of the tibia and 3 cun below the medial condyle of the tibia

Nourishes the spleen and disinhibit uninhibited dampness

1 to 2

  1. *A cun is a measurement used to locate acupoints and corresponds to the distance between the two medial ends of the creases of the interphalangeal joints when the patient’s middle finger is flexed