Utilizing
acupuncture as a prophylactic treatment to cystitis-prone women, it was found
that different combination of acupoints had different effects on the recurrence
rate of cystitis, according to a clinical study published in the Chinese
Journal of Integrated Medicine.
Cystitis
means the infection of bladder. Recurrent cystitis commonly occurs in women in
their late 20s and in women aged over 55. It is believed that a light variation
in body’s defence system or kidney problems may tip the balance in favour of
bacteria to cause infection. Although antibiotics are normally effective in
control the infection, long term use of antibiotics has many side effects.
Acupuncture
is effective in treating cystitis. Recently researchers in Norway performed a
clinical study to assess the correlation between individual acupoints used and
the recurrent rate of cystitis in cystitis-prone women receiving acupuncture as
a prophylactic treatment. Fifty-eight cystitis women were recruited for the
study and were given acupuncture twice a week for 4 weeks. Residual urine was
measured at the baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months following the treatment and a
number of cystitis episodes were counted during 6 month observation.
It was
reported that the combination of BL23 and KI3 used in 16 women and 13 of 16
(80%) women reported a significant reduction in symptomatic episodes. However,
when 42 women treated with acupuncture without combination of BL23 and KI3, on
14 of 42 (33%) women reported a markedly reduction in symptomatic episodes.
BL23 application correlated to a significant reduction in residual urine
measured a few days after treatment.
Authors
suggests that although acupoint SP6 is normally regarded as a primary selection
for the treatment of cystitis-prone women, for those with residual urine
problem, the better acupoint selection could be BL23 and KI3 acupoints.
Refenece:
Alraek T et al., Acupuncture points used in the
prophylaxis against recurrent uncomplicated cystitis, patterns identified and
their possible relationship to physiological measurements. Chin J Integr Med.
2014 Dec 9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25491541
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