This is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial with a cross-over component. It investigates the effect of non-invasive acupoint stimulation on stress in young and middle-aged women. A total of 90 participants will be enrolled: 60 with a Liver-Qi Stagnation constitution and high perceived stress, and 30 without this constitution as a non-intervention baseline control. The 60 participants with the target constitution will be randomized into two groups. One group (n=30) will undergo a cross-over intervention, sequentially receiving steam-warm acupressure and simple acupressure (at five acupoints) in a randomized order, separated by a washout period. The other group (n=30) will receive placebo stimulation. The primary outcome is the change in the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) score. Secondary outcomes include physiological stress responses.
Age range
20 Years – 40 Years
Sex
FEMALE
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Change in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) Score
Timeframe: From Baseline (Visit 1) to the end of each 4-week intervention phase (Visit 2 and, for the crossover group, Visit 4).