Acupuncture and pregnancy by IVF
Course of acupuncture (akupunktur) may raise success of IVF treatment by 65%
Women who undergo IVF increase their chances of pregnancy if they are also treated with acupuncture, a new analysis suggests.
The benefits may be large — a 65 per cent increase in the chance of becoming pregnant, and a 91 per cent increase in the number of live births.
The results have emerged from a meta-analysis, a technique in which the results of many previous trials are pooled. A team led by Dr Eric Manheimer of the University of Maryland School of Medicine scanned medical literature for trials that attempted to measure the effect of acupuncture on IVF success.
They found 108 trials, but rejected all but seven because of defects of methodology — such as that acupuncture was not administered within a day of IVF or was used as a form of pain relief. The seven they retained, all published since 2002 and carried out in four Western countries, involved 1,366 women. In all the trials the women were given acupuncture immediately before or after the test-tube embryo was transferred to their wombs. All the acupuncture sessions lasted 25 to 30 minutes.
In British Medical Journal online, the team reports that almost all these trials reported positive findings. Taken together they showed a 65 per cent increase in establishment of pregnancy, an 87 per cent increase in continuing pregnancy, and a 91 per cent increase in live births.
All these results were statistically significant, measured by the criterion of odds of less than one in 20 of having come about by chance. But the team says that these figures overestimate the benefits, since success rates even without acupuncture are relatively high.
It is more realistic, the report says, to measure the results on a “number needed to treat” basis. This is the method that assesses how many women need to be treated to achieve a single extra pregnancy — and the answer is ten.
Even on this basis it is a striking result, especially as nobody has any idea why acupuncture (akupunktur) should be having this effect.
Professor Edzard Ernst of Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth said: “On the face of it these results sound fantastic. I would, however, be very cautious as much of the observed effect could be due to a placebo response. IVF may not seem to be ‘placebo-prone’ but it probably is: if women expect it to be helpful they are more relaxed which, in turn, would affect pregnancy rates.”
Success rates in IVF vary greatly from clinic to clinic, and the analysis found that where success rates were high the benefit of acupuncture (akupunktur) was smaller and not statistically significant. That may mean that acupuncture (akupunktur) was simply a “marker” for clinics where a lot of care is taken to see that women are calm and relaxed.
The team suggests that acupuncture (akupunktur) may influence the menstrual cycle, stimulate blood flow to the womb, or produce mood chemicals that reduce the stress response to IVF. From the Times.

Course of acupuncture (akupunktur) may raise success of IVF treatment by 65%

Women who undergo IVF increase their chances of pregnancy if they are also treated with acupuncture, a new analysis suggests.

The benefits may be large — a 65 per cent increase in the chance of becoming pregnant, and a 91 per cent increase in the number of live births.

The results have emerged from a meta-analysis, a technique in which the results of many previous trials are pooled. A team led by Dr Eric Manheimer of the University of Maryland School of Medicine scanned medical literature for trials that attempted to measure the effect of acupuncture on IVF success.

They found 108 trials, but rejected all but seven because of defects of methodology — such as that acupuncture was not administered within a day of IVF or was used as a form of pain relief. The seven they retained, all published since 2002 and carried out in four Western countries, involved 1,366 women. In all the trials the women were given acupuncture immediately before or after the test-tube embryo was transferred to their wombs. All the acupuncture sessions lasted 25 to 30 minutes.

In British Medical Journal online, the team reports that almost all these trials reported positive findings. Taken together they showed a 65 per cent increase in establishment of pregnancy, an 87 per cent increase in continuing pregnancy, and a 91 per cent increase in live births.

All these results were statistically significant, measured by the criterion of odds of less than one in 20 of having come about by chance. But the team says that these figures overestimate the benefits, since success rates even without acupuncture are relatively high.

It is more realistic, the report says, to measure the results on a “number needed to treat” basis. This is the method that assesses how many women need to be treated to achieve a single extra pregnancy — and the answer is ten.

Even on this basis it is a striking result, especially as nobody has any idea why acupuncture (akupunktur) should be having this effect.

Professor Edzard Ernst of Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth said: “On the face of it these results sound fantastic. I would, however, be very cautious as much of the observed effect could be due to a placebo response. IVF may not seem to be ‘placebo-prone’ but it probably is: if women expect it to be helpful they are more relaxed which, in turn, would affect pregnancy rates.”

Success rates in IVF vary greatly from clinic to clinic, and the analysis found that where success rates were high the benefit of acupuncture (akupunktur)  was smaller and not statistically significant. That may mean that acupuncture  (akupunktur) was simply a “marker” for clinics where a lot of care is taken to see that women are calm and relaxed.

The team suggests that acupuncture (akupunktur) may influence the menstrual cycle, stimulate blood flow to the womb, or produce mood chemicals that reduce the stress response to IVF. Fra the Times.

Akupunktur og IVF. Det er vigtigt at vælge en akupunktør, der har erfaring imed barnløshed samt både akupunktur og IVF behandling så at dine IVF behandlinger forbederes og lever op til de forskelige udelandske forsøg.

Success of acupuncture and acupressure of the Pc 6 acupoint in the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum.

Habek D, Barbir A, Habek JC, Janculiak D, Bobić-Vuković M.

Clinical Hospital Osijek, Croatia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiemetic effect of acupuncture (AP) and acupressure (APr) of the Pc 6 acupoint in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). METHODS: A prospective, placebo-controlled trial included 36 pregnant women with HG. Two methods of acupuncture were used: bilateral manual AP of the Pc 6 (Neiguan) acupoint (group 1, n = 10) and bilateral APr of the Pc 6 acupoint (group 2, n = 11); furthermore, superficial intracutaneous placebo AP (group 3, n = and placebo APr (group 4, n = 7) was carried out. RESULTS: Anxiodepressive symptoms occurred in 9 pregnant women with HG from group 1, 8 women from group 2, 7 women from group 3, and 5 women from group 4 (p < 0.001). The average gestation age at the occurrence of HG symptoms and the beginning of treatment was 7 weeks in group 1 and 8 weeks in groups 2, 3, and 4. Four women from group 1 and 7 women from groups 2, 3, an 4 needed intravenous compensation of liquid and electrolytes. The antiemetic metoclopramide was given intravenously to 1 woman from group 1, 2 women from group 2, 6 women from group 3, and 4 women from group 4. Promethazine was given to 1 woman from group 2, 1 woman from group 3, and to 3 women from group 4. The efficiency of the HG treatment with AP of the point Pc 6 was 90%, with APr of the Pc 6 63.6%, with placebo AP 12.5%, and with placebo APr 0%. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture (p < 0.0001) and acupressure (p < 0.1) are effective, nonpharmacologic methods for the treatment of HG. acupuncture

Su Jok Acupuncture

Literally, Hand and Foot : (Su means a hand, and Jok means a foot), Su Jok is a form of acupuncture or acupressure therapy which is highly condensed and focused on the treatment of diseases and disorders by concentrating only on hands and feet.

Unlike classical acupuncture treatment by Su-Jok is accomplished solely on hand and foot which reflects the name of this method. According to the Su-Jok acupuncture system, highly active point's correspondent to all internal organs and parts of body are available on hand and foot. Stimulation of these points gives normalizing influence to the function of diseased organs.
The points are composed in a strict anatomical order, reflecting the structure of the body in a diminished form. This is explained with the fact that the hand and foot reflecting principles of hologram repeat the physical structure of the body, especially in comparison with its architectonic.

Sujok (hand & foot) Acupuncture not only to treat hand and feet diseases.
Though Sujok treatment is done only in hands & feet it is for all the diseases affecting all the systems & whole body.

Origin

The first information on acupuncture date from the period of finding stone needles (3,000 BC) that are nowadays property of the Korean National Museum and the only direct proof of the assumption that ancient Korea must have been one of acupuncture cradles. There is a written record based on these investigations, which is at the same time the oldest medical book in the world, the book Nei Ching. In translation it means a stone needle and it originates from east part of China.

Basic principles in Sujok therapy
According to the principles of Onnuri medicine and Oriental Energetic Concepts, diseases occur in human body and mind are purely due to the imbalances of the forces acting on them. Sujok achieves cure by bringing on balance and harmony of the forces in the body and mind.

Stimulation and Treatment

Su Jok contains many methods of treatment. One method we experience every day is by walking on our feet and working with our hands. This gives us constant, random stimulation on corresponding points; however, purposeful hand and foot massage (also known as hand or foot reflexology) is even better. There are many methods of stimulation besides mechanical pressure, including:

1. Miniature magnets designed both to give both mechanical and magnetic force stimulation;
2. Moxibustion in the form of: (a) moxa sticks; (b) moxa the size of rice grains held on the hand or foot by small holders to prevent direct contact; and (c) direct thread moxa;
3. Massage rollers to stimulate the hands and feet;
4. Soft lasers;
5. Miniature hand needles; and
6. Colored transparent plastic discs placed strategically on charka hand points.

Other methods will be developed based on our technological and biological advancements in understanding on the physical and quantum levels of human functioning.

Conditions for use

 

Some of the more common disorders frequently treated with Su Jok Acupuncture include:
headaches and epilepsy
disorders of the limbs and musculature, such as:
fibrositis
rheumatism
lumbago
muscle cramps
digestive disorders, such as:
nausea, constipation, diarrhea
hepatitis
cardiovascular disorders
genitourinary disorders
gynecological disorders
sexual dysfunction
disorders of the eyes, ears, nose and throat
skin disorders
nervous system and psychiatric disorders
obesity
addiction to alcohol, nicotine and heroin

Acupuncture May Aid In Vitro Fertilization