Research and reviews
Acupuncture and pregnancy
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Acupuncture For Prebirth Treatment:
An Observational Study Of Its Use In Midwifery Practice Betts D and Lennox S, Med Acup 2006, 17, (3) 16 - 19 Medical Acupuncture |
| This survey conducted in New Zealand revealed that women who had acupuncture in the last 4 weeks of their pregnancy had a third less the number of medical inductions, epidurals and emergency caesarians compare to local population rates.
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Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial Manber R et al, Obst and Gynec 2010, 115 (3) 511 - 520 Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Since there is evidence that the use of antidepressants increases the risk of miscarriage and may have adverse effects on the fetus, there has been much interest in the use of acupuncture to treat depression which occurs in pregnancy. A number of trials and systematic reviews of the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of depression have been published over the last 5 years and a meta-analysis of these trials concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for depression. This trial looked specifically at depression in pregnancy and found that acupuncture was as effective as other standard treatments and worked more quickly.
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Effects of acupuncture and stabilising exercises as adjunct to standard treatment in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain: randomised single blind controlled trial. Elden H et al 2005 Jul 30;331(7511):249-50. British Medical Journal |
| This 6 week trial indicated that acupuncture treatment of pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy was more effective than other treatment options.
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Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review. Ee CC et al, 2008 Am J Obstet Gynecol Mar;198(3):254-9. American Jnl Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| This review of 3 trials examining treatment of back and pelvic pain in pregnancy concludes that acupuncture, as an adjunct to standard treatment, is superior to standard treatment alone and physiotherapy.
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Cost-effectiveness of breech version by acupuncture-type interventions on BL 67, including moxibustion, for women with a breech foetus at 33 weeks gestation: a modelling approach Van den Berg I et al, Complement Ther Med. 2010 Apr;18(2):67-77. Complementary therapies in medicine |
| The use of acupuncture and moxabustion on women presenting with breech babies at week 33 was assessed in this large restrospective Dutch study. Acupuncture was shown to reduce the number of breech presentations at term, thus reducing the number of caesarean sections.
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Effect of Gutai Decoction on the Abortion Rate of in vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer Liu Ying and Wu Jing-zhi Chin J Integr Med 2006, 12(3) : 189-193 Chinese Journal of Integrated Medicine |
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A group of women undergoing IVF were given a well known Chinese herb formula known to help prevent miscarriage and stabilise early pregnancy, from 2 days after their embryo transfer (combined with progesterone) up until 9 weeks of pregnancy if they conceived. The control group used progesterone support only. They found that 13% of the women who conceived while taking the Chinese herb formula miscarried, while 23% of the women in the control group miscarried. There were no adverse effects on liver or kidney function in the treated group, and no birth defects in the treated group (one case of harelip in the untreated group).
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Influence of acupuncture on Doppler ultrasound in pregnant women Zeisler H et al, Ultrasound Obstet Gyn 2001 Volume 17, Issue 3, pages 229–232, Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology |
| This study showed that acupuncture performed on pregnant women close to term had a beneficial effect on blood flow in the umbilical artery, leading some researchers to suggest that acupuncture provides an alternative method of preventing preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction in high-risk women.
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Effect of Chinese herbal treatment on Th1- and Th2-type cytokines, progesterone and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in early pregnant women of threatened abortion Liu F, Luo SP, Chin J Integr Med. 2009 Oct;15(5):353-8 Chinese Journal of Integrated Medicine |
| In this study the mechanism of a well known formula for preventing miscarriage was examined. After taking the formula for 4 weeks in early pregnancy, the levels of certain immune factors were shown to be more favourable to a successful pregnancy outcome than they were before taking the herbs.
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Using moxibustion in primary healthcare to correct non-vertex presentation: a multicentre randomised controlled trial Vas J et al, Acupunct Med 2013;31:31-38 Acupuncture in Medicine |
| Moxa applied to an acupuncture point on the foot was shown in this trial to be more effective than other treatments in correcting breech presentation between week 33 and 35 of pregnancy.
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Moxibustion for breech presentation: significant new evidence Smith C, Acupunct Med 2013;31:5-6 Acupuncture in Medicine |
| In this editorial Caroline Smith from University of Western Sydney, discusses recent findings and analysis (Cochrane Review) of treatment for breech presentation. | |