Abstract Relief from migraine attacks may be obtained through non-pharmacological therapy during pregnancy when most drugs are contraindicated. There is accumulating evidence for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for migraine in the general population but very little to no data on acupuncture during pregnancy. With this retrospective study, we wanted to determine whether an association exists between acupuncture treatment and preterm delivery and side effects of therapy. The initial study group was 68 women with migraine (29.78% with aura and 70.21% without aura), 47 of which responded to a questionnaire on acupuncture safety within 6 weeks of delivery. A...Weiterlesen

Abstract ImportanceA pharmacological approach to pain control after cesarean delivery is often insufficient on its own. Acupuncture is a promising method for mitigating postoperative pain and reducing postoperative opioid requirements. ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for pain control after cesarean delivery, compared with a placebo intervention and standard care alone. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis single-center, placebo-controlled, patient- and assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 13, 2015, to June 27, 2018, at a tertiary university hospital in Greifswald, Germany. Participants were women who were scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia...Weiterlesen

Abstract IntroductionPreoperative anxiety before cesarean section is a major issue. Nonpharmacologic anxiety control is believed to be more suitable in pregnant women. Auricular acupuncture (AA) is an inexpensive, easy-to-use, and validated intervention to reduce anxiety in different surgical settings. We evaluated the effect of AA on preoperative cesarean section anxiety. MethodsIn a prospective, blind, controlled trial, pregnant women with a scheduled cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomized to receive AA with needle, AA without needle (sham), or usual care (no intervention). Anxiety level was assessed by using a visual analogue scale for anxiety (VAS-A; 0-minimal anxiety, 100-maximal anxiety) at...Weiterlesen

Abstract Importance A pharmacological approach to pain control after cesarean delivery is often insufficient on its own. Acupuncture is a promising method for mitigating postoperative pain and reducing postoperative opioid requirements. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for pain control after cesarean delivery, compared with a placebo intervention and standard care alone. Design, Setting, and Participants This single-center, placebo-controlled, patient- and assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted from January 13, 2015, to June 27, 2018, at a tertiary university hospital in Greifswald, Germany. Participants were women who were scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia...Weiterlesen

Abstract BackgroundMenstrual migraine without aura (MMoA) refers to a specific type of migraine that is associated with the female ovarian cycle. It is particularly serious and has brought huge life pressure and mental burden to female patients. Acupuncture has been commonly used to prevent migraines and relieve concomitant emotional disorders; however, the physiological mechanism underlying this intervention remains unclear. This study aimed to use resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) to investigate whether acupuncture can modulate brain function and if the potential influence on brain activity correlates with improving emotional symptoms in MMoA patients. MethodsOverall, 44 patients were randomly divided...Weiterlesen

Autor: Anna Benrick, Nicolas J Pillon, Emma Nilsson, Eva Lindgren, Anna Krook, Charlotte Ling, Elisabet Stener-Victorin Abstract Context: Autonomic nervous system activation mediates the increase in whole-body glucose uptake in response to electroacupuncture but the mechanisms are largely unknown.  Objective: To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying electroacupuncture-induced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle in insulin-resistant overweight/obese women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).  Design/participants: In a case-control study, skeletal muscle biopsies were collected from 15 women with PCOS and 14 controls before and after electroacupuncture. Gene expression and methylation was analyzed using Illumina BeadChips arrays.  Results: A single bout of electroacupuncture restores metabolic and transcriptional...Weiterlesen

Autor: Juan Li, Wanting Wu, Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Ernest Hung Yu Ng, Raymond Hang Wun Li, Meifang Li, Hua Liu, Maohua Lai, Yanbing Meng, Yanhua Zheng, Yang Xia, Hongxia Ma Abstract Objective: To test the hypothesis that acupuncture improves insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance (IR).  Design: Prospective pilot study.  Setting: Guangzhou, China, 2014-2016.  Participants: Eighty women with PCOS aged 18-40 years with body mass index (BMI) above 18.5 kg/m2 and with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index ⩾2.14.  Interventions: Subjects received acupuncture with combined manual and low-frequency electrical stimulation of the needles three times per week for 6 months.  Primary...Weiterlesen

Abstract OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture at single point Shiqizhui (EX-B8) and multi-points in time-varying treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS 600 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to the single point group (n=200) including group A (treating before the menstruation, n=100) and group B (immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence, n=100), the multi-points group (n=200) including group C (treating before the menstruation, n=100) and group D (immediately treating as soon as pain occurrence, n=100), or the control group, group E (n=200, no treatment). The therapeutic effects were analyzed after treatment for three menstrual cycles...Weiterlesen

Abstract INTRODUCTION Ear acupuncture carried out in primary care by trained midwives, with no specialist training in acupuncture, may be effective in alleviating pregnancy-related lower back and/or posterior pelvic girdle pain (LBPGP). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of ear acupuncture associated with standard obstetric care, in the primary-care setting, on LBPGP experienced by pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS This four-group, multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted at 18 public primary care centers in three regions in Spain, with the participation of 220 pregnant women at 24-36 weeks of gestation, aged 18 years or more, diagnosed with pregnancy-related...Weiterlesen

Abstract BACKGROUND Postnatal scanty milk secretion is a common complaint. Some physical and medical interventions were advocated to help milk production. These interventions should be effective and safe for the mother and the infant. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of low-level laser therapy and electroacupuncture on postnatal scanty milk secretion. STUDY DESIGN A randomized controlled study conducted on 60 healthy primiparous mothers with insufficient lactation. They were randomly divided into three equal groups: group A (control), group B (those who received low-power He-Ne laser beam on both breasts), and group C (those who received faradic current stimulation at Spleen 6,...Weiterlesen