The safety of acupuncture during pregnancy: a systematic review

Jimin Park, Youngjoo Sohn, Adrian R White, Hyangsook Lee

Results

Of 105 included studies, detailed AEs were reported only in 25 studies represented by 27 articles (25.7%). AEs evaluated as certain, probable or possible in the causality assessment were all mild/moderate in severity, with needling pain being the most frequent. Severe AEs or deaths were few and all considered unlikely to have been caused by acupuncture. Total AE incidence was 1.9%, and the incidence of AEs evaluated as certainly, probably or possibly causally related to acupuncture was 1.3%.

Conclusions

Acupuncture during pregnancy appears to be associated with few AEs when correctly applied.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/acupmed-2013-010480