June 6, 2003 – A new study confirms that in some women, acupuncture can drastically reduce the frequency of their urinary tract infections.
This study is the work of Norwegian researchers, who looked into the same subject in 1998. At the time, of the 67 women prone to frequent urinary tract infections who participated in the study, 85% of those treated with acupuncture had not been ill during the six-month study period. In comparison, only 58% of those subjected to a false acupuncture treatment and 36% of those assigned to the control group had obtained such a result.
For their most recent study, the researchers recruited 94 women with frequent urinary tract infections. This time, acupuncture reduced the recurrence of the problem by 50%, compared to the control group.2.
Questioned about the results obtained, an expert from the American National Kidney Foundation explained that acupuncture may have helped women to empty their bladder completely, and therefore to get rid of bacteria that can cause a urinary tract infection. An empty bladder minimizes the risk of infection.
The use of acupuncture in the fight against urinary infections could also reduce the use of antibiotics to fight the problem, and thus decrease the risk of seeing resistant bacteria spread.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to Prevention; June 2003.
1. Aune A, Alraek T, LiHua H, Baerheim A. Acupuncture in the prophylaxis of recurrent lower urinary tract infection in adult women.Scand J Prim Health Care 1998 Mar; 16 (1): 37-9. [Consulté le 6 juin 2003].
2. Alraek T, Soedal LI, Fagerheim SU, Digranes A, Baerheim A. Acupuncture treatment in the prevention of uncomplicated recurrent lower urinary tract infections in adult women.Am J Public Health 2002 Oct; 92 (10): 1609-11. [Consulté le 6 juin 2003].
