One of the most important components of traditional Chinese medicine is a needle-based therapy known as acupuncture. This very powerful Oriental form of treatment can help resolve the emotional and physical problems that beset women during pregnancy.

Acupuncture Can Help Relieve Many of the Symptoms (or Side effects) of Pregnancy

Studies have shown that acupuncture can help offset the following pregnancy-related conditions.

Depression

Depression stemming from any cause is not an issue with acupuncturists. This is because acupuncture helps release endorphins that can bring about relaxation and calmness in a person, which helps a lot in battling depression as well as emotional distress. One study done in 2010 involved 150 pregnant women suffering from severe depression; when they were given acupuncture treatment specifically designed to treat depression for four months, these women experienced a significant improvement in their depressive symptoms in varying degrees. Some of the women given acupuncture not specified to treat depression also experienced improvement but not as much as the group treated with acupuncture designed to treat depression. Another group who were given massage therapy showed also positive results although they were less in numbers compared to the groups given specific and non-specific treatment. Another study done earlier revealed that acupuncture can help lessen emotional complaints related to pregnancy (including irritability and anxiety).

Insomnia

A study that was posted in 2005 showed that acupuncture can help treat pregnancy-related insomnia. This study involved 30 women who were pregnant and having sleeping issues with 17 of these women given acupuncture for eight weeks of acupuncture treatment. After the study, the group given acupuncture showed a much lower decrease of their insomnia compared to the groups not given acupuncture treatment.

Morning Sickness

A 200 trial study involving a participation of 593 women (all were pregnant for less than 14 weeks and showed symptoms of vomiting and /or nausea or vomiting) have shown that the group given weekly acupuncture treatment had less bouts of nausea throughout the study. This group had fewer incidents of dry retching after the second week of treatment compared to the rest of the women not treated with acupuncture.

Pain

A study posted in 2008 has indicated that acupuncture can effectively alleviate pelvic and back pain associated with pregnancy. The study showed that women given acupuncture combined with their standard treatment had significant improvement of their pain compared to those who have undergone exercise-based therapy, physical therapy or stand-alone standard treatment.

Is Acupuncture Safe to Use During Pregnancy?

Acupuncture is deemed a safe procedure but it’s very important to talk with your doctor first before embarking on this treatment to treat conditions related to your pregnancy.

Eastern Healing Solutions, LLC
10875 Grandview Dr #2250
Overland Park, KS 66210
Phone: (913) 549-4322
overlandparkacupuncturist.com