Acupuncture and Urinary Tract Infections
23 April 2008
Researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway have investigated the benefits of acupuncture in a group of 94 women, all of whom had experienced at least 3 urinary tract infections during the previous 12 months. Sixty-seven of the women received acupuncture 2 times per week for 4 weeks. 73% of the women who received acupuncture remained infection-free during the 6 months after treatment, relative to only 52% of those who did not receive acupuncture. They also measured the amount of residual urine left in bladders after urination, which is thought to be a risk factor in recurrent urinary problems, and found this was halved in those receiving acupuncture. (American Journal of Public Health 2002;92:1609-1611).
Acupuncture and the overactive Bladder
Eleven patients (9 males and 2 females) with overactive bladders were treated by acupuncture. The age range was from 51 to 82 years (mean 71 years). Nine patients complained of urge incontinence and 2 patients of urgency. Uninhibited contraction was observed in all patients before the acupuncture. Acupuncture was given at bilateral Zhongliao BL-33 and the needles rotated for 10 minutes manually. After an average of 7 treatments, urge incontinence was controlled completely in 5 and partially in 2 of the 9 patients. In 2 patients who complained of urgency, complete response was obtained after the treatment. Uninhibited contraction disappeared in 6 patients after the treatment. Acupuncture also significantly induced an increase of maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance. (Japanese Journal of Urology. 1995; 86(10):1514-9).