Moxibustion Turns Babies In Breech Pregnancy
Up to 25% of babies at some time during a pregnancy will be in a breech position, but by 34 weeks most fetuses have turned into a head-down, or vertex, position on their own. This is the usual and safest fetal position for birth. Delivering a baby in a breech position involves a number of risks to the infant. Most obstetricians today will therefore opt to perform a caesarean section if the fetus has not turned on its own.
Moxibustion, the burning of the herb mugwort over the acupuncture point, Bl-67 on the little toe, has been shown to be very successful in turning the fetus. The treatment seems to stimulate hormones that cause the uterus to contract and encourage the fetus to move to the correct position. Studies in China show a success rate of 80 to 90% in correcting the breech position using this acupuncture technique. Women should be closely monitored by their obstetrician or midwife during this treatment.
The main advantage of this approach is that it is non-invasive, has no side-effects, and is pain-free. The moxibustion treatment is often used in conjunction with acupuncture. In this case the practitioner will insert a small, sterile, acupuncture needle into the acupuncture point BL 67, and whilst the needle is still in place the point is warmed with the burning mugwort herbal stick.