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Acupuncture is becoming popular among GPs
Acupuncture helps relieve morning sickness for pregnant women, a study
shows.
It is hoped the findings will give wider recognition of the medical benefits
of the ancient Chinese art.
The research follows a previous study which showed acupuncture's success in
treating sickness in women recovering from breast surgery, including
mastectomies.
Women now have an additional option to manage their morning sickness
Dr Caroline Smith
"Our results have shown that as little as one acupuncture treatment can
significantly change the way these women feel," said research co-ordinator
Dr Caroline Smith.
The study involved nearly 600 women who were less than 14 weeks pregnant
with symptoms of nausea or vomiting.
They were given weekly 20-minute sessions of acupuncture for four weeks.
About 50-80% of all pregnant women experience nausea or vomiting in early
pregnancy, which can be severely debilitating.
Dr Smith, from the Women's and Children's Hospital and Adelaide University
said: "We found that traditional acupuncture reduced nausea throughout the
trial with dry retching being reduced from the second week.
"Women now have an additional option to manage their morning sickness.
"I hope this exciting evidence that complementary therapy does work, will
open up new opportunities for funding future research in women's health."
Acupuncture on NHS
The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) says previous research
indicates nausea and vomiting respond well to this type of therapy.
Dr Richard Halvorsen from the BMAS is a GP who uses acupuncture at his
London surgery to complement traditional medicine.
He said: "I'm an NHS GP and I use acupuncture in every day practice and I
have treated several women experiencing morning sickness with acupuncture to
good effect.
"I like to practice combining conventional and complementary medicine.
"I like to look at things holistically and decide what is best for the
patient."
Dr Halvorsen administers acupuncture to his patients on the NHS.
He says GPs are becoming increasingly interested in acupuncture and about
600 doctors a year are being trained how to use it by the BMAS.
Acupuncture is used to treat a range of painful problems, including back
pain, migraine prevention and arthritis.
Practitioners say it offers a drug-free alternative to treat some medical
conditions.
Results of the Australian study are published in the American journal Birth.
Information resource:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1842196.stm
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