ABSTRACT
<b>Purpose :</b> Recently, it has been reported that insulin resistance was revealed among non-PCOS women with ovulation disorder. There have been many relevant reports so far that glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism were improved by acupuncture therapy. In this research, therefore, it was examined if acupuncture therapy is effective for glucose metabolism or menstrual cycle disorder of women with ovulation disorder.<br><b>Method :</b> We had thirty three adult female measured their basal body temperature (BBT) for three months. Six of them whose BBT showed a normal menstrual cycle were put into a control group, and seven who didn’t show the high temperature phase were put into an abnormal group. Each group was given 75g of glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and their blood glucose level and insulin level were compared. Also, the abnormal group had acupuncture therapies for about a year, and their menstrual cycle, blood glucose level and serum insulin level were compared between before and after the series of therapies.<br><b>Results :</b> The comparison of the blood glucose level at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes and serum insulin level at 120 minutes between the control group and the abnormal group showed that they were significantly higher in the abnormal group. (The blood glucose level at 30 minutes : 113±16.0 mg/<I>dl</I> vs. 142.4±22.0 mg/<I>dl</I>, p<0.01, the blood glucose level at 60 minutes : 91.6±21.2 mg/<I>dl</I> vs. 128.2±47.9 mg/<I>dl</I>, p<0.01, the blood glucose level at 120 minutes : 84.1±9.1 mg/<I>dl</I> vs. 123.2±32.6mg/<I>dl</I>, p<0.01, serum insulin level at 120 minutes : 35.3±14.5 μU/<I>ml</I> vs. 55.0±17.5μU/<I>ml</I>, p<0.01) The comparison between before and after the therapies of the abnormal group showed that they were significantly lower at the blood glucose level at 30 minutes, 120 minutes and serum insulin level at 30 minutes, 120 minutes. (The blood glucose level at 30 minutes : 142.4±22.0 mg/<I>dl</I> vs. 119.8±26.6mg/<I>dl</I>, p<0.01, the blood glucose level at 120 minutes : 123.2±32.6 mg/<I>dl</I> vs. 94.2±18.7 mg/<I>dl</I>, p<0.01, serum insulin level at 30 minutes : 74.2±50.0μU/<I>ml</I> vs. 54.5±29.1μU/<I>ml</I>, p<0.01, serum insulin level at 120 minutes : 55.0±17.5μU/<I>ml</I> vs. 37.3±13.3μU/<I>ml</I>, p<0.05) The number of days of menstmal cycle became significantly shorter and the high temperature phase became significantly longer after the series of therapies. (Cycle : 110.8±124.7 days vs. 37.7±13.0 days, p<0.03, number of days of high temperature : 0 days vs. 7.5±4.5 days, p<0.03)<br><b>Conclusion :</b> It was suggested that acupuncture has a possibility to work effectively for improving glucose metabolism disorder and menstrual cycle for women with ovulation disorder.
ABSTRACT
Up until the present, the primary treatment for threatened premature labor has been bed rest, with drug therapy as a supplement. However, with drug therapy the problems of side effects and dosage limitations have made it difficult to achieve therapeutic effectiveness. In this paper, the authors report the favorable results obtained in such cases when moxibustion and a microwave emitter were used for stimulation therapy based on Oriental medical theory. Moxibustion was carried out on Shim, Yusen and Saninko (acupuncture points) in cases of threatened premature labor beyond the 24th week. Despite the short duration of treatment, uterine tension was relieved, fetal movement increased, and resistance in the umbilical artery and uterine artery reduced. Similar results were achieved with multiple microwave stimulation treatments; the effects lasted for long periods and were not accompanied by side effects. Thus, the results showed that through the use of moxibustion therapy in conjunction with drug therapy, the dosage could be reduced, and the frequency of side-effect appearance lowered. These results suggest that moxibustion therapy has potential as an effective and safe new treatment for threatened premature labor.
ABSTRACT
Correction of fetal malpresentation such as knee-chest positioning and external cephalic version, has long been performed in cases of breech presentation. The reliability and safety of such treatment, however, remains unclear. We performed moxibustion on three acupoints, namely, Saninko, Shiin, and Yusen to correct the condition.<br>We studied a total of 28 women, 22 of whom were observed until delivery, and six who had not reached full term by the end of the study. Cephalic presentation was achieved in 25 (89.3%), All but one of the fetuses that were corrected to cephalic presentation had full term vaginal delivery. The remaining one underwent premature delivery due to premature rupture of the membrane at 35 weeks 6 days. None of the babies showed any abnormalities. Correction could not be achieved in three women by the time of delivery. One of these three had dicornate uterus and underwent caesarian section due to premature rupture of the membrane. The other two had full term vaginal delivery of live babies. These results indicate that the correction of breech presentation by moxibustion is a safe method which cause no adverse effects on the mother or baby.