Acupuncture can help women’s health

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 12

Acupuncture can help women’s health

NZPA-Re’uter Washington The traditional Chinese therapy of acupuncture can relieve menstrual cramps and some premenstrual symptoms, a study has found. Results of the study are outlined in this month’s issue of “Obstetrics and Gynecology,” published by the American College of Obstetricians and

Gynecologists, a professional organisation of more than 26,000 physicians. J_ ■ The study, conducted at the Kaiser-Perinanente Medical Centre in Oakland, . California, found that women suffering from painful menstruation who were given acupuncture treatments were able io reduce the amount of pain medicine they took

for the condition, the journal said. They also suffered less premenstrual breast tenderness and fluid retention than women taking drugs normally used to reduce menstrual pain, it said. Four groups of women who suffered menstrual pain were compared for a year, the journal said. One group received the

acupuncture treatments done correctly, while a seond received a treatment where needles were misplaced. A third group received additional doctor’s visits while the fourth was the control group. Ten of the 11 real acupuncture patients reported immediate relief and were able to reduce their regular medication

by half or more, | 1 Although several women in the group receiving misplaced : treatment reported less, pain, the reduction did not last as long and discomfort increased after treatment ended, the report said. The acupunture groups received their treatments for three weeks {every months, with no acupuncture during menstruation.