title: Effect of acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) moxibustion on the first stage of labor and uterine contractive pain in primiparae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of acupoint Sanyinjiao (SP6) moxibustion (S-Mox) on the duration of the first labor stage and uterine contractive pain in primiparae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty primipara women in labor were equally assigned according to their choice to three groups: women in the S-Mox group received bilateral S-Mox for 30 min, women in the non-acupoint group received moxibustion (Mox) applied on non-acupoints for 30 min, and those in the control group did not receive Mox intervention. The duration of the first labor stage was recorded and the degree of labor pain was estimated by a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after Mox.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration of the first stage active phase in the S-Mox group was significantly shorter than that in the other two groups (P<0.05, P<0.01); the VAS score after Mox was lower in the S-Mox group, showing a statistical difference in comparison with the control group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying S-Mox could markedly shorten the active phase of the first stage of labor and lower the VAS score of uterine contractive pain, which means alleviating the pain caused by vaginal delivery. Its mechanism is worthy of further study.
authors.affiliation: College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei United University, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China. cjm2188@126.com
authors.forename: Jian-mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xiao-xi
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zi-huan
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Shu-Xiang
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Li-hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000502:physiology*; D009071:Moxibustion; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult