Moxibustion question

triumphantreturnofplanningbug

I know several women who've had success with moxa helping to turn a breech baby.

But a friend just asked me if it can also be used to help ready a pregnant woman's body for labor in general, or help start labor if she's late. And I have no idea what the answer to that question is.

Do you know? (and if you know, will you pretty please tell me?)

honkytonk_kid

I found a couple articles like this one:

https://www.associatedcontent.com/article/331095/a_look_at_moxibustion_for_inducing.html?cat=52  

that say it can start labor and/or ripen the cervix. I'm not sure how scientific they are, but I would probably give it a try if I were late

 

triumphantreturnofplanningbug

Thank you! I'll pass that along!

kesrya

NO!!!!  As a licensed acupuncturist, moxa is NOT to be used for starting labor or for prepping for labor.  Moxa is contraindicated for the entire length of pregnancy except when used for turning breech for several reasons: it raises blood pressure and pulse rate for both mother and baby, it stimulates fetal movement, and it creates heat in the system - which pregnant women are already overly hot. There is only one time I will use moxa, other than breech, during pregnancy - and that is in the very beginning on a point on the top of the head in cases of women who have a history of multiple miscarriages to help maintain the pregnancy.

There are many, many other things that can be done to prep the body for labor in terms of acupuncture and acupressure, but moxa should not be done.  You run the risk of overstimulating the baby, and having it turn again.  In other words, I tell my pregnant patients when they feel a lot of fetal movement with their moxa sticks, to stop using them immediately and get positioning re-checked.  If the baby has turned, stop using it because the baby could turn back if you over stimulate.

The actual herb used in "moxa" is chinese mugwort -- mugwort is on every list of "herbs to be avoided during pregnancy" because of these reasons.  The reason it works so well to turn breech is the exact reason it should not be used for any other pregnancy related issue.

 

njh514

kesrya:

NO!!!!  As a licensed acupuncturist, moxa is NOT to be used for starting labor or for prepping for labor.  Moxa is contraindicated for the entire length of pregnancy except when used for turning breech for several reasons: it raises blood pressure and pulse rate for both mother and baby, it stimulates fetal movement, and it creates heat in the system - which pregnant women are already overly hot. There is only one time I will use moxa, other than breech, during pregnancy - and that is in the very beginning on a point on the top of the head in cases of women who have a history of multiple miscarriages to help maintain the pregnancy.

There are many, many other things that can be done to prep the body for labor in terms of acupuncture and acupressure, but moxa should not be done.  You run the risk of overstimulating the baby, and having it turn again.  In other words, I tell my pregnant patients when they feel a lot of fetal movement with their moxa sticks, to stop using them immediately and get positioning re-checked.  If the baby has turned, stop using it because the baby could turn back if you over stimulate.

The actual herb used in "moxa" is chinese mugwort -- mugwort is on every list of "herbs to be avoided during pregnancy" because of these reasons.  The reason it works so well to turn breech is the exact reason it should not be used for any other pregnancy related issue.

Fabulous info! Thanks! 

triumphantreturnofplanningbug

kesrya:

NO!!!!  As a licensed acupuncturist, moxa is NOT to be used for starting labor or for prepping for labor. 

Yikes! Thank you for the super thorough and really informative answer! I'm thinking that with that in mind, it would be better to pass on names of acupuncturists in her area who mine might know, and have her talk with someone in person. Does that sound like a good suggestion to you?

kesrya

Yup - that sounds like the right thing to do.  And while any acupuncturist technically can work on a pregnant woman, I would also recommend referring to someone who has at least a little experience beyond just knowing what points not to do (which everyone learns in school). 

The reason being is that I've heard often of someone saying that acupuncture didn't work for them for certain pre-labor issues, and then when I hear them describe what their acupuncturist did, I realize it is because the practitioner followed a protocol they read in a book but didn't have enough experience to tailor it to the patient.

For example - the treatment done with moxa to turn breech is something that needs to be done twice a day 5 days in a row at the minimum.  I use the first treatment to teach someone's partner how to do it, and send them home with the sticks to continue their own treatment. But I'll hear that someone's practitioner did it once in the office and that was it.  Also, as mentioned above - moxa shouldn't be used on women with high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia; and its highly discouraged in cases of women with twins where one is breech and the other is not because of the reasons I already stated - but I have worked with practitioners who will do it anyways on every woman.  I hate to disappoint women when they call up looking for treatment, but I'm going to be honest and tell someone when the treatment they are looking for is not a good idea.

honkytonk_kid

Whoa, kesrya- thanks for the legit info!! Another example of google not being your friend Good to know!