Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of body acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure for treatment of menstrual headache of hyperactivity of"liver fire".Methods A total of 85 menstrual headache patients with hyperactivity of"liver-fire"were randomly divided into control group(n=42)and treatment group(n=43).Patients of the control group were treated by oral administration of Flunarizine Hydrochloride Capsules(Sibelium

5mg/time

twice daily)for 5days beginning at the headache attack in the first menstrual cycle

and for two weeks(except weekends)in the second and third menstrual cycles.Patients of the treatment group were treated by manual acupuncture stimulation of body acupoints Baihui(GV 20)

Fengchi(GB 20)

Sanyinjiao(SP 6)

Taichong(LR 3)

Xiaxi(GB 43)

Taiyang(EX-HN 5)

Hanyan(GB 4)

Xuanlu(GB 5)and Shuaigu(GB 8)beginning from the headache attack

and otopoint-pellet pressure of otopoints unilateral Endocrine

Ovaries

Shenmen

Cortex

Liver

Spleen and Kidney(beginning 5days before menstrual onset)and bilateral Shenmen

Nie

Liver

Gallbladder

Subcortex and Jiaogan during headache attack.Clinical symptom scores were assessed according to the"Guiding Principles for Clinical Research on New Chinese Herbal Drugs"issued by the Chinese Ministry of Health.Results After the treatment

of the 42 and 43cases in the control and treatment groups

9(21.43%)and 20(46.51%)were cured

12(28.57%)and 14(32.56%)had a marked improvement

13(30.95%)and 7(16.28%)were effective

8(19.05%)and 2(4.65%)invalid

with the effective rates being 80.95% and 95.35%

respectively.The curative effect of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group(P<0.05).The symptom score and VAS score after the treatment and 3months post-treatment in the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P< 0.01).The headache scores and VAS scores were significantly reduced following the treatment and 3 months after the treatment in both control and treatment groups(P<0.01).After the treatment for 2-3therapeutic courses

the headache attack duration during menstruation was markedly and gradually shortened in both groups(P<0.01)

and therapeutic effect of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion Body acupuncture combined with auricular acupressure treatment can effectively relieve menstrual headache in menstrual women with hyperactivity of"liver fire".