Study: Acupuncture may boost pregnancy
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer
Fri Feb 8, 6:14 PM ET
It sounds far-fetched — sticking needles in women to help them
become pregnant — but a scientific review suggests that
acupuncture might improve the odds of conceiving if done right
before or after embryos are placed in the womb.
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The surprising finding is far from proven, and there are only
theories for how and why acupuncture might work. However,
some fertility specialists say they are hopeful that this relatively
inexpensive and simple treatment might ultimately prove to be a
useful add-on to traditional methods.
"It is being taken more seriously across our specialty," and more
doctors are training in it, said Dr. William Gibbons, who runs a
fertility clinic in Baton Rouge, La., and is past president of the
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. "I have not seen
proof ... but we wouldn't mind at all" if it turned out to work, he
said.
The analysis was led by Eric Manheimer, a researcher at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine, and paid for by a
federal agency, the National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine. Results were published Friday in the British
medical journal, BMJ.
Acupuncture involves placing very thin needles at specific points
on the body to try to control pain and reduce stress. In fertility
treatment, it is thought to increase blood flow to the uterus, relax
the cervix and inhibit "fight or flight" stress hormones that can
make it tougher for an embryo to implant, Manheimer said.
The analysis pools results from seven studies on 1,366 women in
the United States, Germany, Australia and Denmark who are
having in vitro fertilization, or IVF. It involves mixing sperm and
eggs in a lab dish to create embryos that are placed in the womb.
Women were randomly assigned to receive IVF alone, IVF with
acupuncture within a day of embryo transfer, or IVF plus sham
acupuncture, in which needles were placed too shallowly or in
spots not thought to matter.
Individually, only three of the studies found acupuncture
beneficial, three found a trend toward benefit and one found no
benefit. When results of these smaller studies were pooled,
researchers found that the odds of conceiving went up about 65
percent for women given acupuncture.
Experts warn against focusing on that number, because this type
of analysis with pooled results is not proof that acupuncture helps
at all, let alone by how much. IVF results in pregnancy about 35
percent of the time. Adding acupuncture might boost that to
around 45 percent, the researchers said.
The authors include doctors from the Netherlands and
Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. One is an
acupuncturist but had no role in any studies that were analyzed.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has no policy on
acupuncture. "There's been a lot of conflicting research" on its
usefulness, said spokeswoman Eleanor Nicoll.
"It looks like, from the body of evidence out there, that some
patients benefit," said Dr. James Grifo, head of the infertility
program at New York University.
However, Dr. Zev Rosenwaks, director of infertility treatment at
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, said
other studies, reported at recent medical meetings and not
included in the published analysis, did not find it helped.
"The jury is still out," he said, but added, "It's unlikely that
acupuncture does any harm."
Dr. Ann Trevino, a 37-year-old family physician who recently
moved to Houston, is pregnant, and a believer. She had three
unsuccessful pregnancy attempts with intrauterine insemination
before trying acupuncture with IVF at a fertility clinic in San
Antonio where she used to live.
"I had been reading about acupuncture, probably like every other
patient on the Internet. I was just willing to do anything possible to
improve our chances," she said. With acupuncture, "I just felt very
warm and relaxed" when the embryos were placed.
Dr. Francisco Arredondo, who runs Reproductive Medicine
Associates of Texas where Trevino was treated, said he started
offering acupuncture in October, after patients requested it and
because some studies suggested it helped.
Acupuncturist Kirsten Karchmer said she places about a dozen
needles in the ears, hands, feet, lower legs, abdomen and
sometimes the lower back. It costs $500 a month for treatments
twice a week, and patients typically go for three months, she said.
IVF costs around $12,000 per attempt, so a treatment that
improves its effectiveness might save money in the long run,
Manheimer said.
___
On the Net:
http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/february/ivf.pdf
Acupuncture May Ease Arthritis Discomfort
Electro- and traditional acupuncture may reduce joint tenderness in the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis, according to research.Electro- and traditional acupuncture may reduce
joint tenderness in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, according to research presented
this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in
Washington, DC.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, dramatically limits
movement and function as well as causing damage to cartilage and bone.
For the 60 million individuals around the world (1% of the population) with this immune
system disease, the arthritis inflammation causes pain, stiffness, swelling and damage of the
joints.
During the study, patients who were receiving electro-acupuncture had experienced a
significant reduction in the number of tender joints and measurable decrease in arthritis
pain, stiffness and swelling.
The traditional acupuncture group also experienced benefits but at a diminished rate,
while those in the placebo group saw no change.
“The patient’s comfort is as important as relieving the disease itself,” says Dr. Lai-Shan
Tam, Associate Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, and an
investigator in the study.
“So, while the results were not as positive as had been hoped, this does show that
acupuncture, either electro or traditional, when used in conjunction with disease modifying
agents, may still provide beneficial pain relief for those with otherwise intractable rheumatoid
arthritis.”
Chinese medicine alleviates irritable bowel syndrome
... syndrome (IBS). This chronic or recurrent condition is characterized by
abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea. Traditional Chinese herbal
remedies are routinely used in China to treat the condition, but so far have not
been generally accepted by conventional Western medicine. This may ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a85e.htm 03/02/04
Acupressure found effective in treatment of low back pain
Acupressure found effective in treatment of low back pain TAIPEI, TAIWAN.
Acupressure is an ancient technique used in Chinese medicine. It is very similar to
acupuncture except that it employs finger pressure rather than thin needles to
stimulate acu-points. Acu- points have aptly been described as ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a151e.htm 01/09/05
Acupuncture cures chronic hiccups
Acupuncture cures chronic hiccups INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA. Chronic hiccups is a
fairly common disorder, yet little is known about its cause and conventional
treatment with surgery or drugs is largely ineffective. Now Dr. Andreas Schlager,
MD of the Univerity of Innsbruck reports the use of Korean hand acupuncture ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a85c.htm 03/02/04
Acupuncture may relieve pelvic pain in pregnancy
Acupuncture may relieve pelvic pain in pregnancy GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN. Pelvic
girdle pain is common among pregnant women, with one in three affected
suffering severe pain. It is thought to be caused by hormones affecting the
flexibility of ligaments and muscles in preparation for labour. A research team ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a158h.htm 10/10/05
Acupuncture treatment for cocaine dependency
Acupuncture treatment for cocaine dependency NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.
Almost two million Americans now use cocaine and usage continues to grow
especially among the 18- to 25-year age group. Conventional treatments for
cocaine dependency are not very effective. This prompted researchers at the Yale
University ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a106f.htm 03/02/04
Acupuncture acts directly on the brain
Acupuncture acts directly on the brain CHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS. Although
acupuncture has been successfully used for thousands of years in China it is still
viewed with considerable skepticism by many Western medical practitioners. One
of the main stumbling blocks to greater acceptance is the lack ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a103a.htm 03/02/04
Acupuncture prevents breech birth
Acupuncture prevents breech birth NANCHANG, CHINA. The threat of a breech
birth (buttocks rather than the head appear first in the birth canal) is particularly
high among women having their first child. A breech birth can often be avoided by
external manipulation (ECV) prior to labor, but in some cases ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a85d.htm 03/02/04
Alternative Medicine: Why so popular?
International Health News - Your Gateway to Better Health This report investigates
the reasons why acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, vitamin therapy and
other alternative modalities are flourishing ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: WHY SO
POPULAR? by Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE In 1997 Americans made 627 ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/ralternative_medicine.htm 03/27/04
Acupuncture effective in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee
Acupuncture effective in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee BALTIMORE,
MARYLAND & DOS HERMANAS, SPAIN. Osteoarthritis is a major cause of incapacity
and deteriorated quality of life in the elderly. It is the most common form of
arthritis and occurs most frequently in the knee. Currently, there is ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a154b.htm 10/10/05
Acupuncture goes mainstream
Acupuncture goes mainstream TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA. The merits of acupuncture
were debated at a recent Consensus Development Conference held by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). The assembled medical doctors and other
practitioners agreed that there now is evidence that acupuncture is effective ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a86b.htm 03/02/04
Acupuncture comes of age ?in the West!
Acupuncture comes of age ?in the West! BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Dr. Ted
Kaptchuk of the Harvard Medical School provides an excellent overview of the
current status of acupuncture in the United States. The first use of acupuncture
took place in China during the Stone Age. The technique has been slowly ...
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a127f.htm 03/02/04
Congratulate to Cynthia who finally has been pregnant for 12 weeks after
acupuncture and Chinese herb formula treatment by Dr. Mark Lee. Cynthia had
infertility for many years, she called our office and said thank you to Dr. Lee last
month. We are very pleased, and congratulate to her.11/12/2005.
Great News for
chronic ulcerative colitis patients
Moxibustion-Chinese herb therapy has shown successful effectiveness in treating ulcerative
colitis. Observation on histology and ultrastructure showed that the therapeutic effect of
herb-moxibustion therapy for ulcerative colitis was much better than Azulfidine(P<0.
01).
For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine has effectively treated the symptoms of chronic
digestive problems, including ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel, and Crohn's disease. All three
diseases have some common symptoms and can be treated with a combination of
herbs/moxa and acupuncture. This treatment does not exclude western treatment, but can
augment and enhance the body's ability to heal from the disease. For more information,
please call Dr. Lee at (817)253-2891.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Center of Fort Worth
2481 Forest Park Blvd., Fort worth, Texas 76110| (817) 253-2891
Copyright © 2005 Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Center of Fort Worth
Texas All Rights Reserved
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