Curative effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on postpartum abdominal pain and its influence on serum β-EP level in puerpera.
10.13703/j.0255-2930.20230228-k0006
- Author:
Yan HUO
1
;
Ping CHEN
2
;
Jun-Nan ZHU
1
;
Ya-Qi FU
1
;
Guang-Li XU
3
Author Information
1. First Clinical Medical School of Henan University of CM, Zhengzhou 450000, China.
2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. pingping6768@126.com.
3. Department of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of CM, Zhengzhou 450099.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acupuncture combined with herbal medication;
analgesia;
beta-endorphin ( β-EP);
postpartum abdominal pain;
wrist-ankle acupuncture
- MeSH:
Female;
Humans;
Ankle;
beta-Endorphin;
Wrist;
Acupuncture Therapy;
Abdominal Pain;
Acupuncture Points
- From:
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion
2023;43(11):1257-1260
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To observe the clinical effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on postpartum abdominal pain and its influence on serum beta-endorphin (β-EP) level in puerpera.
METHODS:Seventy patients with postpartum abdominal pain were randomly divided into an acupuncture + herbal medication group (35 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a herbal medication group (35 cases, 2 cases dropped out). In the herbal medication group, 1 day after delivery, modified shenghua decoction was taken orally, one dose a day. In the acupuncture + herbal medication group, on the basis of herbal medication, wrist-ankle acupuncture was given at the Lower 1 and Lower 2 of the ankles, once daily. The duration of treatment was 3 days in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the score of visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, serum β-EP level, uterine fundus height, postpartum conditions of lochia and the uterine recovery at 42 days postpartum were compared in the patients of the two groups.
RESULTS:At each time point after treatment (24 h, 48 h and 72 h after delivery), VAS scores and the uterine fundus height were reduced as compared with those before treatment (2 h after delivery) in the two groups (P<0.05); these indexes in the acupuncture + herbal medication group were lower than those in the herbal medication group (P<0.05). After treatment (72 h after delivery), β-EP levels in the serum were increased when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the β-EP level in the acupuncture + herbal medication group was higher than that in the herbal medication group (P<0.05). The volume of postpartum lochia discharge in the acupuncture + herbal medication group was higher than that in the herbal medication group (P<0.05), while the duration of postpartum lochia discharge and the total time of lochia discharge were shorter (P<0.05). Regarding the recovery of the uterus at 42 days postpartum, there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:Wrist-ankle acupuncture obviously reduces the degree of postpartum abdominal pain and promotes the lochia discharge and the uterine recovery. The effect mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of serum β-EP level and the increase of pain threshold so that analgesia is obtained.
