Acupuncture reduces some morning sickness
08 March 2002
Acupuncture reduces nausea and dry retching associated with morning sickness, but not the vomiting, say Australian researchers.
Their findings, published in the latest issue of Birth, show that women less than 14 weeks' pregnant can significantly reduce nausea and dry retching by using traditional or pericardium 6 (p6) acupuncture (Birth 2002; 29: 1-9).
'Consistent nausea has a great impact on the overall wellbeing of women in the early stages of their pregnancy,' said Dr Caroline Smith, lead author and Adelaide University obstetric and gynaecology department postdoctoral research officer.
'Our results have shown that as little as one acupuncture treatment can significantly change the way these women feel.'
Almost 600 women were involved in the study, each randomised to one of 4 groups; traditional acupuncture, p6 acupuncture, sham acupuncture or no acupuncture (control). Treatment was administered weekly for 4 weeks.
'We found that traditional acupuncture reduced nausea throughout the trial with dry retching being reduced from the second week,' Dr Smith said. '[But] p6 took around a week long to have an effect.'
Women in the sham acupuncture group had to wait 3 weeks before feeling less nausea and dry retching.
Despite these effects, the study did not record a difference in the amount of vomiting experienced by women in the control group and any of the acupuncture groups.
Last Reviewed: 13 March 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 08/03/02
