Effects of qi therapy (external qigong ) on premenstrual syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of qi therapy on premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). DESIGN A randomized placebo-controlled trial. SUBJECTS Thirty-six (36) college women with symptoms of PMS. INTERVENTION After 2 months of screening, subjects with PMS were randomized to receive real qi therapy (18 subjects) or placebo (18 subjects). The subjects were informed that they would receive one of two types of treatment. They did not know which treatment they received. Each intervention was performed eight times during the second and third cycles with subjects completing a PMS diary. RESULTS There were significant improvements in the symptoms of negative feeling, pain, water retention, and total PMS symptoms in subjects receiving qi therapy compared to placebo controls. CONCLUSION Qi therapy may be an effective complementary therapy for managing the symptoms of PMS.