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Related Experiment Video

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Auricular Point Acupressure Therapy: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Postsurgical Abortion Recovery

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'Forbidden points' in pregnancy: do they exist?

André V Guerreiro da Silva¹, Mary Uchiyama Nakamura, João Bosco Guerreiro da Silva

¹Department of Obstetrics, Federal University of São Paulo and Department of Medicine II, Service of Acupuncture, Rio Preto Medical College, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society

|March 23, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Acupuncture is safe for pregnancy, despite concerns about "forbidden" points potentially causing miscarriages. Current evidence suggests these fears are unfounded, but more research is needed.

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Area of Science:

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Integrative Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

Acupuncture is a widely used therapy for various conditions, including common obstetric complaints like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and pain.
Concerns exist regarding specific acupuncture points, termed "forbidden points," and their potential to induce abortion (abortifacient effect) during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the safety of acupuncture during pregnancy, specifically addressing the purported risks associated with "forbidden points."
To synthesize existing evidence regarding the abortifacient potential of acupuncture in obstetric care.

Main Methods:

Literature review of available publications on acupuncture use in pregnancy.
Analysis of studies investigating potential adverse effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes.

Main Results:

The limited available research suggests that the concern regarding "forbidden points" causing harm to pregnancy is not supported by current evidence.
Existing data does not confirm a significant abortifacient effect from acupuncture during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

Current evidence indicates that acupuncture is likely safe for use in obstetric care.
Further research, including animal studies and a comprehensive systematic review, is recommended to definitively clarify the safety profile of acupuncture in pregnancy and address any residual concerns.