Effects of traditional Chinese medicine-assisted intervention on improving postpartum lactation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Importance: Breast milk is the safest food for infants and has many psychological and physical benefits for infants and mothers. However, problems encountered during the breastfeeding process can reduce postpartum women's willingness to breastfeed. Lactation and engorgement may be improved through Traditional Chinese Medicine auxiliary therapy. However, the overall efficacy of various Traditional Chinese Medicine auxiliary therapies and the relevant meridians and acupuncture points for treating breast milk deficiency remain unclear. Objective: To investigate Traditional Chinese Medicine auxiliary therapy's effectiveness and acupoints for postpartum women who experience problems during the breastfeeding process. Methods: Data were sourced from Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, CNKI, PubMed, and the Airiti Library Central Register of Controlled Trials and Clinical Trials from the database inception to October 2022. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes were overall efficiency, prolactin level, milk volume, and breast engorgement in postpartum women with lactation deficiency after-assisted therapies and the correlation between meridian points and milk secretion. Results: A total of 1,516 studies were initially identified, and 357 articles were assessed. In the final analysis, 20 studies were included, covering various Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies (acupuncture, acupressure, scrapping, moxibustion cupping, etc.) to stimulate relative acupoints without any acupoint stimulation. The overall efficiency (odds ratio [OR] = 14.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.49 to 30.92), prolactin level (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.074 to 0.64), improvement of milk volume (SMD = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.59 to 1.29), reduction of engorgement level (OR= 18, 95% CI = 8.34 to 38.82) demonstrated that Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies can effectively improve lactation and breast fullness, thereby helping patients with breast milk deficiency. The most common acupuncture points used to treat agalactia were classified as the Stomach Meridian, Small Intestine Meridian, and Conception Vessel, with the common acupoints CV17: Danzhong, ST18: Rugen, SI1: Shaoze, ST36: Zusanli, and ST16: Yingchuang. Conclusion: Adjuvant Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy can improve lactation and breast engorgement, thereby increasing the willingness to breastfeed. Clinical Finding: 1. The best time for Traditional Chinese Medicine acupoint intervention for breast deficiency treatment is within 24 h 2. The most effective acupuncture points for improving milk deficiency and bloating pain are ST18: Rugen, ST16: Yingchuang, ST36: Zusanli, SI1: Shaoze, CV17: Danzhong. 3. Traditional Chinese Medicine is non-invasive and effective techniques such as scraping, cupping, acupressure and ear peas. 4. Traditional Chinese Medicine can be combined with other different acupuncture points according to the different constitutions of post-partum women. Breast acupressure, ear acupuncture, scrapping, cupping, and moxibustion are noninvasive treatments that can effectively help patients during lactation, and their clinical practice should be considered and widely promoted.

The Effectiveness of the Integrated Care Model among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Depression: A Quasi-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Depression is the second-leading cause of disability among older patients worldwide. This study examined the effectiveness of the Integrated Care Model (ICM) intervention in decreasing depression, suicide ideation, and psychological symptoms and improving life satisfaction among old patients with depression living in communities. The participants were allocated to either the intervention (n = 67) or control group (n = 76) from July 2018 to November 2018. All participants received the usual geriatric care for three months in eastern Taiwan. Additionally, participants in the intervention group were treated according to the ICM, including the assessment and management of health problems, improvements in spiritual and mental wellbeing, helping with activities of daily life and mobility, providing social welfare resources, and prevention of elder abuse. The patients in the experimental group showed significant improvement in the group-by-time effect on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Brief Symptom Rating Scale, suicide ideation measures, and the Life Satisfaction Index over 18 weeks. The ICM should be included in routine geriatric care and adopted in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and communities.

Efficacy of two different materials used in auricular acupressure on weight reduction and abdominal obesity.

The current study was designed to test the efficacy of different materials used in an auricular acupressure program on weight reduction, changes to waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. This study used a randomized design with two groups who were treated with auricular acupressure using Semen Vaccariae or the Japanese Magnetic Pearl. Both groups consisted of Asian young adults with a waist circumference ≥ 80 cm in the females and ≥ 90 cm in the males. At completion of the eight-week treatment period, the total sample size was 56 young adults who ranged in age from 18 to 20 years old. Each participant was met with weekly for ten-minute sessions during which ear acupressure treatment was performed. Sessions continued for eight weeks wherein both groups received acupressure with the Japanese Magnetic Pearl or Semen Vaccariae on the ear acupoints. While both groups showed significant reductions (p ≤ 0.05) to body weight and waist circumference after eight weeks of treatments, the group treated with Semen Vaccariae group showed a more effective weight loss over the short term. Given that auricular acupressure is a safe and cost-effective treatment for weight loss, our results suggest that auricular acupressure is a reasonable option for the treatment of overweight and obesity in young adults.

Effects of auricular acupressure on weight reduction and abdominal obesity in Asian young adults: a randomized controlled trial.

The current study was designed to test the efficacy of auricular acupressure on weight reduction and changes of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. This study used a randomized design with one control group and one experimental group consisting of Asian young adults with a waist circumference ≥80 cm in the females and ≥90cm in the males. At completion of eight weeks of auricular therapy, the total sample size was 55 young adults who ranged in age from 18 to 20 years old. Each participant was treated weekly for ear acupressure in ten-minute sessions. Sessions continued for eight weeks wherein the control group received acupressure only while the experimental group received acupressure with the Japanese Magnetic Pearl on the ear acupoints. While both the control and treatment groups showed significant reduction (p ≤ 0.05) to body weight and waist circumference after eight weeks of treatment, only the group treated with Japanese Magnetic Pearls showed decreased waist to hip ratio. Thus, auricular acupressure may be a beneficial addition to weight loss programs for young adults. Auricular acupressure is thus a reasonable option in the treatment of overweight and obesity in young adults.