BACKGROUND
Perimenopausal syndrome (PPS) is also known as climacteric syndrome, whose main symptoms include endocrine dyscrasia and neurasthenia induced by the degeneration of ovarian functions2. It is also known as a perimenopausal disorder in traditional Chinese medicine. As a disease in women, PPS mainly occurs around the time of menopause. According to a study by Lijuan et.a.l 3, the probability of having PPS in women is the highest (92.10%) among ages 45 to 55 years, and PPS seriously affects their quality of life and living standard3. The perimenopausal syndrome is a disease with high morbidity. It can have severe physical and psychological effects on perimenopausal women. According to modern medicine, the diseases’ significant causes include the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The primary treatment is hormone replacement therapy, which can relieve climacteric symptoms and negative emotions, but it has side effects4. Other research shows that long-term hormone therapy increases breast cancer risk, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and other related diseases4. Therefore, the exploration of new treatments is vital for improving the quality of life of women.
Estrogen is of great significance in the regular operation of the female endocrine system5. Receptors respond to estrogen for estrogen to exert its effect. It is interesting to note that estrogen’s primary receptor, ER-α, is closely linked to neuron growth, function, and structure. Contemporary literature shows that estradiol (E2)’s positive influence on gonadotropin secretion occurs primarily in the hypothalamus; however, it negatively influences the pituitary gland6. The leading causes of PPS include low estrogen levels and degeneration of ovarian function. Therefore, an increase in estrogen levels provides a foundation for treating PPS.
Zhuang Medicated Thread Moxibustion (ZMTM) is a characteristic surgical procedure established on the theory of ”yin-yang basis”, the man-nature theory featured by the synchrony of triple initial energy, and the theory of ”Sandao lianglu ” which is concerned with the tract for the digestion and absorption of food, tract of water, tract of energy, tract of blood, and sensing tract1.
The procedure for ZMTM entails a ramie thread (No. 2 thread with a diameter of 70 mm), which is first soaked in Chinese herbs and then ignited and applied on the patient’s special acupoints to stimulate those acupoints through heat and medicine. Therefore, energy can be regulated after treatment on the body surface (or acupoints) and the blood and the sensing tract1.
According to the literature, the expression of specific factors can be regulated, and cell apoptosis improved through ZMTM7,8. When ovariectomized rabbits are treated with ZMTM, the interleukin-2 (IL-2) level in their serum can be increased. The high rates of apoptosis in splenocytes can be improved, their immunity can be enhanced, and the negative influence on the uterus shape and ER-α expressions improved7,8. Based on previous studies’ results, this study was designed from the perspective of time-sensitive effects of ZMTM on the level of estrogen in perimenopausal model rats. Therefore, the aim is to investigate the influence of ZMTM on the changes of estrogen in PPS and related features, which can thus provide a reference and favorable implication for clinical application.