See
http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/journals/archive/jama/vol_280/no_18/oc80514a.htm

Here is the abstract:

***

Abstracts - November 11, 1998

Moxibustion for Correction of Breech Presentation

A Randomized Controlled Trial

Francesco Cardini, MD; Huang Weixin, MD

Context.—Traditional Chinese medicine uses moxibustion (burning herbs to

stimulate acupuncture points) of acupoint BL 67 (Zhiyin, located beside
the
outer corner of the fifth toenail), to promote version of fetuses in
breech
presentation. Its effect may be through increasing fetal activity.
However, no
randomized controlled trial has evaluated the efficacy of this therapy.

Objective.—To evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion on
acupoint
BL 67 to increase fetal activity and correct breech presentation.

Design.—Randomized, controlled, open clinical trial.

Setting.— Outpatient departments of the Women's Hospital of Jiangxi
Province, Nanchang, and Jiujiang Women's and Children's Hospital in the
People's Republic of China.

Patients.—Primigravidas in the 33rd week of gestation with normal
pregnancy and an ultrasound diagnosis of breech presentation.

Interventions.—The 130 subjects randomized to the intervention group
received stimulation of acupoint BL 67 by moxa (Japanese term for
Artemisia
vulgaris) rolls for 7 days, with treatment for an additional 7 days if
the fetus
persisted in the breech presentation. The 130 subjects randomized to the

control group received routine care but no interventions for breech
presentation. Subjects with persistent breech presentation after 2 weeks
of
treatment could undergo external cephalic version anytime between 35
weeks'
gestation and delivery.

Main Outcome Measures.—Fetal movements counted by the mother
during 1 hour each day for 1 week; number of cephalic presentations
during
the 35th week and at delivery.

Results.—The intervention group experienced a mean of 48.45 fetal
movements vs 35.35 in the control group (P<.001; 95% confidence interval

[CI] for difference, 10.56-15.60). During the 35th week of gestation, 98

(75.4%) of 130 fetuses in the intervention group were cephalic vs 62
(47.7%)
of 130 fetuses in the control group (P<.001; relative risk [RR], 1.58;
95% CI,
1.29-1.94). Despite the fact that 24 subjects in the control group and 1
subject
in the intervention group underwent external cephalic version, 98
(75.4%) of
 the 130 fetuses in the intervention group were cephalic at birth vs 81
(62.3%)
of the 130 fetuses in the control group (P=.02; RR, 1.21; 95% CI,
1.02-1.43).

Conclusion.—Among primigravidas with breech presentation during the 33rd

week of gestation, moxibustion for 1 to 2 weeks increased fetal activity
during
the treatment period and cephalic presentation after the treatment
period and
at delivery.

JAMA. 1998;280:1580-1584

***

Sincerely,
Andrea

--
Andrea Eastman, MA, CCE, IBCLC
Granville, Ohio
mailto:[log in to unmask]

Gentle Birth Alternatives
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