Pregnancy causes morning sickness in some expecting women. Your doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate nausea and vomiting, which are hallmarks of the condition. Acupuncture is often used to treat the symptoms of morning sickness in Asian countries. Although acupuncture is not widely practiced in Western countries, it may appeal to women who wish to avoid taking medication while pregnant.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Acupuncture
A study published in the December 209 issue of “Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion” investigated the effects of acupuncture on hyperemesis gravidarum, which is a severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that can lead to dehydration. Researchers recruited 90 pregnant women and divided them into three groups of 30 each: one was treated with acupuncture using four specific acupuncture points; a second was treated with 30 mg of luminal, an anti-epileptic drug, three times a day; and the third received a Chinese herbal concoction. After the seven-day trial, 96.7 percent of the women in the acupuncture group showed significant improvements, whereas 60 percent responded to Chinese herbs and 46.7 percent benefited from luminal. The researchers concluded that acupuncture offers rapid and effective relief of hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms.
Acupuncture vs. Pharmaceuticals
An article appearing in an Italian medical journal, “Minerva Ginecologica,” compared the efficacy of acupuncture to pharmacological therapies for hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms. Eighty-eight pregnant women were divided into two groups for the two-week trial: the first was treated with metoclopramide, a commonly prescribed medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease and the second group received acupuncture treatments twice a week throughout out the trial. The researchers found that both treatments relieved symptoms of morning sickness, but acupuncture was significantly more effective than medications. The study concluded that the effects of acupuncture are progressive, as they were more pronounced toward the end of treatment.
PC6 Acupoint
Acupuncture and acupressure at the PC6 acupoint is an effective, nonpharmacological treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum in pregnant women, according to a study in the February 2004 issue of “Research in Complementary and Natural Classical Medicine.” Researchers conducted a placebo-controlled trial with 36 pregnant women suffering from severe morning sickness using acupuncture or acupressure on the PC6 acupoint, which is located on the inside of the forearm, 2 centimeters above the wrist. The study determined that 90 percent of the patients responded well to acupuncture, whereas 63.6 percent responded to acupressure and 12.5 percent found relief from a placebo. The authors concluded that acupuncture is an effective alternative treatment for the symptoms of morning sickness.
Review of Medical Trials
Researchers from the University of Heidelberg in Germany reviewed medical literature from several databases to summarize knowledge on the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. They found that results from more than 40 studies were mixed and generally inconclusive. However, the authors stated that acupuncture at point SP6 may ameliorate the symptoms of morning sickness in pregnant women. They noted that MRIs showed some beneficial effects on vagal nerve and cerebellar activities
References
- “Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion”; Observation on Therapeutic Effect of Acupuncture on Hyperemesis Gravidarum; Z. Mao, et al.; December 2009
- “Minerva Ginecologica”; Acupuncture versus Pharmacological Approach to Reduce Hyperemesis Gravidarum Discomfort; I. Neri, et al.; August 2005
- “Research in Complementary and Natural Classical Medicine”; Success of Acupuncture and Acupressure of the Pc 6 Acupoint in the Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum; D. Habek, et al.; February 2004
- “Autonomic Neuroscience”; Acupuncture for Nausea and Vomiting: An Update of Clinical and Experimental Studies; K. Streitberger, et al.; October 2006
