THE TREATMENT OF PREGNANCY-RELATED COMPLAINTS WITH CHINESE MEDICINE
by Heather McIver, L.Ac. and Kimberly Brown, ND, L.Ac

For a large number of women, pregnancy makes them feel "better than ever." But for others, pregnancy can be a very uncomfortable experience. Recently, there has been an increased interest in using Chinese Medicine to address pregnancy-related issues. Perhaps the well-publicized use of acupuncture to assist fertility treatments has led us to the next natural step: employing this Eastern model to maintain a healthy pregnancy. In fact, more and more OB/Gyn physicians are beginning to collaborate with practitioners of Chinese Medicine to ensure that their patients have access to this minimally invasive and very safe treatment option.

Acupuncture has been used for millennia for the treatment of complications related to pregnancy. Obstetrics was developed as a specialty in Chinese medicine during the Tang dynasty. By the year 852, the first textbook devoted to the subject had been written. Since that time, Chinese medical scholars have continued to contribute to and refine this knowledge. Today, midwives in many parts of the country utilize some Chinese medical techniques during birth. For example, there is a point on the bottom of the foot called YongQuan or "bubbling spring" which can be needled in a newborn who is having trouble taking her first breath.

Naturally, what is most important to both the pregnant woman and her health care provider is that whatever treatment she chooses be safe and effective. Luckily, there have been numerous studies in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States evaluating the efficacy and safety of acupuncture during pregnancy and labor. Almost all studies find that acupuncture performed by qualified practitioners has a positive effect on the outcome being studied, and overwhelmingly these studies affirm the safety of Chinese medicine for both mom and baby. The most frequently studied complaints are addressed below.

Morning Sickness

During pregnancy, the yin and blood accumulate in the lower part of the body. These are the substances required to create and sustain a fetus. This accumulation of yin results in an excess of yang (its opposite) in the upper part of the body. There is subsequently a tendency for the qi to move upwards. Early in pregnancy, when the body is not yet quite adapted to this new situation, this may result in nausea and vomiting. If not severe, this is normal and can be an indicator of a healthy pregnancy.

However, when nausea begins to interfere with a woman’s ability to stay well nourished, it is imperative that she receive appropriate treatment. For some women, ginger tea may work well. For others, acupuncture has been shown to be very effective in both early and later stages of pregnancy.

We commonly see two different presentations of morning sickness. The first is an excessive condition in which a strong and rising Liver qi invades the Stomach qi preventing the Stomach qi from descending; therefore nausea is caused by the upward movement of qi. Such a condition is more likely to occur when a woman feels stressed or overwhelmed. For her, relaxation techniques like meditation, massage, and mild stretching are often very useful, and acupuncture often works very quickly.

The second condition is one of deficiency, or weakness. In this case, the Stomach and Spleen networks (basically the digestive system) are already weak and susceptible to any slight uprising of the qi. In this case, the new mom probably feels a little better after she eats, but may feel sick, weak and dizzy if she goes too long between meals. She benefits most from resting more and snacking throughout the day. For her, the acupuncturist may use both needles and moxibustion to strengthen the digestive system.

Pain

Unfortunately, along with a woman‚s growing stomach can come all kinds of new aches and pains. Back pain, pelvic pain and hypochondriac (rib) pain are the most common, and all of these tend to respond very well to acupuncture. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently awarded a $400,000 grant to researchers at Yale University to study acupuncture as a treatment for back pain during pregnancy.

Emotional Distress

Especially for first-time moms, pregnancy can be very confusing. Hormonal changes, anxiety over the birth itself, and concerns about being a mother can all become incredibly overwhelming. While Chinese medicine may not be a first step on the way to addressing these concerns (a good therapist is a logical starting point), acupuncture has been shown to be at least as effective for depression and anxiety as some medications. Acupuncture has also been shown to be very useful for postpartum depression.

Breech Presentation

If the baby is in a breech position, we can use warmth alone upon one acupuncture point on the foot to correct the position. One controlled study involving 615 women found an 85% success rate using this technique. Furthermore, if there is some structural reason that the baby has not turned (for example if the cord is around the neck), the treatment will not cause any harm. It simply won’t work.

Induction of Labor

It is almost always best to let the baby decide when he wants to be born. However, there are some situations in which it may be important not to wait too long. There are certain acupuncture points that are known to stimulate uterine contractions. However, most women find this to be a gentle initiation of the labor process. The woman might come into our office after being told that she will need to be induced within a few days. We assess her individual constitution and select points based on a diagnosis of excess or deficiency (for example, is she too stressed or too exhausted to be able to begin labor). If the treatment is successful, she usually begins to labor within 12-24 hours. Note: A list of the studies used to compile this article is available upon request.

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Heather McIver, L.Ac., And Kimberly Brown, ND, L.Ac., practice in Greensboro, NC, at Stillpoint Acupuncture and may be contacted at 336-510-2029 or www.stillpointacupuncture.com