Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture: Effective Treatment for Reducing Back and Pelvic Pain in Pregnant Women

Auricular acupuncture is a microsystem within Traditional Chinese Medicine. It uses a localized area of the body (the ear) to treat the body as a whole. It can be used alone or with other treatments such as full body acupuncture or herbs. A recent study reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynocology shows that pregnant women who received ear acupuncture had a significant reduction in low back and pelvic pain. 152 women were split into three groups: one group received acupuncture needles in three points, held in place with tape for one week, another group received sham acupuncture and a third group served as the control and received no acupuncture. 81% of the control group reported a significant reduction in pain, while only 59% of the sham acupuncture group and 47% of the control group reported pain reduction. If you are interested in receiving acupuncture while pregnant, be sure to locate a board certified and licensed acupuncturist to discuss treatment options.