Health Brief

ACUPUNCTURE MAY STOP CHILDREN FROM WETTING THE BED

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Fifteen to twenty percent of all children, five and younger, are affected by bedwetting, or enuresis. Conventional treatment methods have not proven effective; drug treatment can also lead to rare, but potentially serious side effects.

Researchers have been testing the effect of Acupuncture on enuresis. Thus far, Korean Hand Therapy (KHT), in which specific points on the hand corresponds to meridians and body organs, is among the most promising form of Acupuncture. KHT utilizes metals, magnets and electrical currents, in addition to standard Acupuncture needles.

Thirty-three children, between the ages of five and 13, who wet the bed a minimum of three nights per week were enrolled in the study.

Researchers randomly assigned each child to group one, the acupuncture group, or group two, the placebo group.

An E-beam machine was used to deliver low-intensity electromagnetic currents through cords attached to points on the hand. The placebo group received treatment using a non-functioning cord.

KHT points associated with the kidneys, bladder and cerebral functions were stimulated by the E-beam for 20 seconds per treatment. After a series of five treatments, group one crossed over to receive placebo treatment; the placebo group then began receiving actual treatments.

Researchers also collected demographic information on each child, including family history of enuresis and average number of wet nights.

During each treatment, parents were asked to record the number of completely dry nights and document any possible adverse effects of treatment. Parents were contacted three months after the study and asked to report the average number of dry nights during the previous three weeks; patients who were dry for 90% of nights were considered cured.

Twenty-six of the children (14 male, 12 female) completed the study. Of those, 69% had a family history of enuresis and drug treatment had failed in 23%. The average age was 6.5 years.

Of the 26 children, 53% were considered cured three months after the study concluded; no adverse effects were reported.

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SOURCE: Acupuncture Today, November 2003; pp. 1, 27.