Acupuncture does not relieve childbirth pain, finds study

Research suggests results from complementary therapy during labour may be placebo effectPregnant women hoping to give birth without drugs have been known to adopt any number of natural remedies, from water baths to self-hypnosis and extreme screaming, to minimise the agony of labour.But a study published today finds there is no evidence that acupuncture, another popular complementary therapy, reduces the pain of childbirth.Experts say growing numbers of pregnant women are turning to the practice, which involves needles being inserted into the skin to relieve pain. But research suggests it does not work during labour.The finding, which has already prompted a vigorous debate about the value of acupuncture, came from British and Korean researchers who examined previous studies of its use in labour."The results show that there is little convincing evidence that women who had acupuncture experienced less labour pain than those who received no pain relief, a conventional analgesia, a...

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