A recent study notes that "acupuncture has a great impact on minimizing heartburn during pregnancy." The study further concluded that "Acupuncture, as demonstrated in this study, is an effective means of reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life." The study also concludes that acupuncture treatment for heartburn "may reduce the need for medications." Heartburn symptoms decreased significantly in 75% of pregnant women who received acupuncture in this randomized controlled trial, compared with 31% in the control group. Acupuncture Med 2009; 27: 50-53.
Professors performing a research project suggest that reducing the need for medicines is a great advantage for using acupuncture for pregnant women. The study also notes that there were no significant side effects of acupuncture treatment, and further concluded that acupuncture improves the quality of life of pregnant women.
The study supported the use of a given choice of acupuncture points to provide control in the study. Typically, an acupuncturist adjusts the selection of an acupuncture point according to the symptoms and symptoms of the patient. The acupuncture points previously selected in the study included P6 (located on the forearm) and SP4 (located on the leg). The combination of acupuncture points P6 and Sp4, referred to as Neiguan and Gongsun in Chinese, has been carried out for over 1000 years to treat diseases of the heart, chest and stomach.
This point combination is chosen from what is known in Chinese medicine as the “Eight Confluent Points”. These eight acupuncture points have been noted as particularly effective in many texts, studies, and medical history in the history of Chinese medicine. Each of the acupuncture points individually performs the function of solving medical problems, but in the aggregate it creates special functions for solving whole systems of disorders of internal medicine. Other confluence points include the SI3 paired with the BL62. Combined, these points refer to disorders of the neck, shoulder, back and inner cantus of the eye. Points TB5 with address GB41 retrouricular (ear), cheek and external canthus eye disorders. The last pair of confluent glasses, LU7 and KI6, causes problems with the throat, chest and stomach.
Many studies have focused on the application of an individual patient health point. In practice, however, acupuncturists unite points for increasing the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment. It is important to note that this study was consistent with both the general recommendations for the selection of individual acupuncture points for the treatment of heartburn, and the principles of Chinese medicine for the choice of point combinations.
