Acupuncture Research in Ob/Gyn
- Moxibustion for Correction of Breech Presentation.
- Acupuncture for Overactive Bladder.
- Acupuncture in Patients with Dysmenorrhea.
- Acupuncture to Treat Nausea and Vomiting in early pregnancy.
- Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy.
- Acupuncture on Hot Flashes among Menopausal Women.
- Acupuncture-ameliorated menopausal symptoms.
- Acupuncture May Cool Night Hot Flashes.
- Relieve Pain: Does Acupuncture Work?
Moxibustion for Correction of Breach Presentation.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion on acupoint BL 67 to increase fetal activity and correct breech presentation.
Result(s): The intervention group experienced a mean of 48.45 fetal movements vs 35.35 in the control group (P<.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] for difference, 10.56-15.60). During the 35th week of gestation, 98 (75.4%) of 130 fetuses in the intervention group were cephalic vs 62 (47.7%) of 130 fetuses in the control group (P<.001; relative risk [RR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.29-1.94). Despite the fact that 24 subjects in the control group and 1 subject in the intervention group underwent external cephalic version, 98 (75.4%) of the 130 fetuses in the intervention group were cephalic at birth vs 81 (62.3%) of the 130 fetuses in the control group (P=.02; RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.43).
Conclusion(s): Among primigravidas with breech presentation during the 33rd week of gestation, moxibustion for 1 to 2 weeks increased fetal activity during the treatment period and cephalic presentation after the treatment period and at delivery.
H. C. George Wong, Natasha Y. Y. Wong, Jonathan K. T. Wong, Edward Ernst, Francesco Cardini, and Huang Weixink. Moxibustion for Correction of Breach Presentation., JAMA. 1999;282(14):1329-1330.
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Acupuncture for Overactive Bladder
Objective: To compare acupuncture treatment for overactive bladder with urge incontinence with a placebo acupuncture treatment.
Results: Seventy-four women completed all aspects of the study. Women in both treatment and placebo groups had significant decreases in number of incontinent episodes (59% for treatment, 40% for placebo) without a significant difference in the change between the groups. Women in the treatment group had a 14% reduction in urinary frequency (P= .013), a 30% reduction in the proportion of voids associated with urgency (P= .016), and a 13% increase in both maximum voided volume and maximum cystometric capacity (P= .01). Both groups also had an improvement in the urinary distress inventory and incontinence impact questionnaire scores (54% decrease for treatment, 30% decrease for placebo, P= .001 for the difference in change between the groups).
Conclusion: Women who received 4 weekly bladder specific acupuncture treatments had significant improvements in bladder capacity, urgency, frequency, and quality-of-life scores as compared with women who received placebo acupuncture treatments.
Sandra L. Emmons, MD, and Lesley Otto, MD. Acupuncture for Overactive Bladder., Obstetrics & Gynecology, July, 2005;Vol 106, Issue 1: pp138-143.
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Acupuncture in Patients with Dysmenorrhea.
Objective: To investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea.
Result(s): Of 649 women (mean age 36.+/- 7.1 years), 201 were randomized. After three months, the average pain intensity (NRS 0-10) was lower in the acupuncture compared to the control group: 3.1 (95% CI 2.7; 3.6) vs. 5.4 (4.9; 5.9), differenc -2.( -2.9; -1.6); P=.001. The acupuncture group had better quality of life and higher costs.(overall ICER €3,011 per QALY).
Conclusion(s): Additional acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea was associated with improvements in pain and quality of life as compared to treatment with usual care alone and was cost-effective within usual thresholds.
Witt CM, Reinhold T, Brinkhaus B, et al. Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea: a randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008;198:166.e1-166.e8.
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Acupuncture to Treat Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy: A randomized Controlled Trial.
Background: Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy are troublesome symptoms for some women. We undertook a single blind randomized controlled trial to determine whether acupuncture reduced nausea, dry retching, and vomiting, and improved the health status of women in pregnancy.
Result(s): Women receiving traditional acupuncture reported less nausea (p < 0.01) throughout the trial and less dry retching (p < 0.01) from the second week compared with women in the no acupuncture control group. Women who received p6 acupuncture (p < 0.05) reported less nausea from the second week of the trial, and less dry retching (p < 0.001) from the third week compared with women in the no acupuncture control group. Women in the sham acupuncture group (p < 0.01) reported less nausea and dry retching (p < 0.001) from the third week compared with women in the no acupuncture group. No differences in vomiting were found among the groups at any time.
Conclusions(s): Acupuncture is an effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy. A time-related placebo effect was found for some women. (BIRTH 29:1 March 2002)
Smith, C., Crowther, C. and Beilby, J. (2002), Acupuncture To Treat Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Birth, 29: 1–9. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-536X.2002.00149.x
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Role of acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility.
Objective: To review existing scientific rationale and clinical data in the utilization of acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility.
Result(s): Although the understanding of acupuncture is based on ancient medical theory, studies have suggested that certain effects of acupuncture are mediated through endogenous opioid peptides in the central nervous system, particularly ß-endorphin. Because these neuropeptides influence gonadotropin secretion through their action on GnRH, it is logical to hypothesize that acupuncture may impact on the menstrual cycle through these neuropeptides. Although studies of adequate design, sample size, and appropriate control on the use of acupuncture on ovulation induction are lacking, there is only one prospective randomized controlled study examining the efficacy of acupuncture in patients undergoing IVF. Besides its central effect, the sympathoinhibitory effects of acupuncture may impact on uterine blood flow.
Conclusion(s): Although the definitive role of acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility is yet to be established, its potential impact centrally on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and peripherally on the uterus needs to be systemically examined. Prospective randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the female fertility treatment. (Fertil Steril® 2002;78:1149-53. ©2002 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)
Raymond Chang, M.D.[a,b] Pak H. Chung, M.D.[b] and Zev Rosenwaks, M.D.[c]. Role of acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility., The Institute of East-West Medicine and the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, 2002.
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Acupuncture on Hot Flashes among Menopausal Women
Objective: This study compared the effectiveness of individualized acupuncture plus self-care versus self-care alone on hot flashes and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women.
Result(s): Hot flash frequency decreased by 5.8 per 24 hours in the acupuncture group (n = 134) and 3.7 per 24 hours in the control group (n = 133), a difference of 2.1 (P < 0.001). Hot flash intensity decreased by 3.2 units in the acupuncture group and 1.8 units in the control group, a difference of 1.4 (P < 0.001). The acupuncture group experienced statistically significant improvements in the vasomotor, sleep, and somatic symptoms dimensions of the Women’s Health Questionnaire compared with the control group. Urine calcitonin gene-related peptide excretionremained unchanged from baseline to week 12.
Conclusion(s): Acupuncture plus self-care can contribute to a clinically relevant reduction in hot flashes and increased health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women.
Borud EK, Alraek T, White A, Fonnebo V, Eggen AE, Hammar M, et al. PubMed, PMID: 19423996
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Acupuncture-ameliorated menopausal symptoms.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture and sham-acupuncture on women with menopausal symptoms as reflected in the intensity of their hot flushes and the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI).
Result(s): The baseline values of the women in both groups were similar for the KMI score and number of hot flushes. At the end of 6 months, the values for the KMI and hot flushes for the women in Group 1 were lower than those of the women in Group 2 (p < 0.05). After 12 months, the KMI and hot flush data were similar in both groups. After 18 months, the values of the KMI and hot flushes for the women in Group 2 for were lower than those of the women in Group 1 (p< 0.05).
Conclusion(s): Acupuncture treatment for relieving menopausal symptoms may be effective for decreasing hot flushes and the KMI score in postmenopausal women.
Castelo Branco de Luca A, Maggio da Fonseca A, et al., PubMed; PMID: 20497031
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Acupuncture May Cool Night Hot Flashes – Web MD
Excerpt: Sept. 22, 2006 — Acupuncture may nix nighttime hot flashes caused by menopause, according to a new study.
Researchers found seven weeks of acupuncture treatment reduced the severity of nighttime hot flashes by 28% among menopausal women compared with a 6% decrease among women who had a sham acupuncture treatment.
Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause and often occur at night, which can significantly disrupt sleep and affect a woman’s quality of life.
Until recently, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was the most popular treatment for hot flashes. But in the wake of studies that suggested HRT use could increase a woman’s risk of heart disease or cancer, alternative therapies for hot flashes have received renewed interest.
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Relieve Pain: Does Acupuncture Work? – Women’s Health Magazine
Excerpt: Kimberly Adams was training for her first triathlon when she felt a sudden and excruciating pain in her neck. A social worker and mom of two, she suspected that toting around her 7-month-old daughter might have contributed to the injury. Adams saw a doctor, who ruled out a pinched nerve and sent her to a chiropractor. An x-ray showed nothing structurally wrong and the chiropractor made some adjustments, but the pain persisted.
Desperate, Adams, 33, turned to acupuncture. And on her third visit — after 3 weeks of unremitting pain — something radical happened. The acupuncturist wiggled a needle in Adams’s calf while massaging the painful muscle in her neck; the neck muscle began to relax, and 40 seconds later it felt better.
“Literally the next day, the pain was completely gone,” Adams says.
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