Acupoint Stimulation Can Help Induce Labor

Acupuncture is being increasingly used in Western medical practice. The authors review the various applications of acupuncture during labor in this paper. This ancient therapeutic technique can be employed with a significant percentage of positive results to induce labor in post-term pregnancies, to strengthen uterine contractility and to favor cervical maturation.

The electrostimulating acupoints LI 4 Hegu and SP 6 Sanyinjiao is the most frequently used treatment in labor induction and in increasing the frequency and duration of uterine contractions. Moreover, the authors' experience indicates that the BL 67 Zhiyin can be helpful in accelerating the dilation of the cervix: the treatment is effective in about 75% of patients.

The studies on the use of acupuncture to achieve pain relief and analgesia during labor are more controversial, mainly due to the great heterogeneity of applied treatments and some methodological biases. Nevertheless, the general evidence seems to be positive also for this application.

Allais, G., et al. Acupuncture in labor management. Minerva ginecologica 55(6): 503-10.

Western, Oriental medicine may have cooperative benefit for allergic rhinitis

Although a number of methods for treating allergic rhinitis have been tried, many patients have not been satisfied with their treatment. The authors of this study evaluated the effect of a cooperative system of Oriental and Western medicine to develop a new diagnosis protocol for treating allergic rhinitis.

The authors measured improvement rate and acoustic rhinometry after the allergeninduction test and performed a filter paper test as a nonspecific hypersensitivity test with 60 patients who are allergic to dust mites. They divided the patients into two groups, one of which was treated with Western medicine only and the other, which received a combination of Western and Oriental herbal medicines.

According to one of their measurements, the authors observed more symptomatic improvements among the patients who received a combination of Western and Oriental medicines. In the filter paper test there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Jeong, Su-Hyeon, et al. The effect of a cooperative system of Oriental and Western medicine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine 24(4):64-70.