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Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Book Reviews
115
representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally. K Merck & Co., Inc. is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health.
K Elsevier Science is the world’s leading scientific, technical and medical information provider and publishes over 1,600 journals, over 2000 books per year as well as secondary databases. Elsevier Science key brands include: Academic Press; Butterworth-Heinemann; Cell Press; ChurchillLivingstone; Engineering Information; Excerpta Medica; The Lancet; MD Consult; MDL; Mosby; North-Holland; Pergamon; ScienceDirect and WB Saunders. Else-
vier Science is a member of the Reed Elsevier plc group (www.reedelsevier.com), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the scientific, legal and business-to-business industry sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high value and flexible information solutions to professional end users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a delivery method (www.elsevier.com).
BOOK R E VIE W
Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth Zita West Churchill Livingstone ISBN: 0 443 061386 In 1993, Zita West set up a pioneering clinic at Warwick hospital (only the 2nd in the UK) to provide acupuncture on the NHS for pregnant women. The depth of her experience as both a midwife and acupuncturist makes her ideally placed to write a book in which she enthusiastically advocates the use of acupuncture in pregnancy and childbirth. The main strength of this book is its coverage of both conventional western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine as applied to the field of obstetrics. The scope is extensive, ranging from pre-conceptual to post-natal care, with each stage of pregnancy considered from eastern and western viewpoints. Each chapter follows a similar format, with a discussion of physiological changes in the progressing pregnancy, common symptoms and their causes, suggested treatments and nutritional advice. Equally informative for acupuncturists, midwives, and nurses, each profession will gain valuable insights into different perspectives of pregnancy and childbirth. While acupuncturists will be guided through the maze of NHS care and obstetric medical knowledge, midwives and nurses, will learn about the
Eastern philosophy of childbirth and the scope of acupuncture in treating common problems in pregnancy and childbirth. Some particular highlights of the diet include the comprehensive coverage of nutrition, diet, useful tips on needle techniques in pregnancy, case studies to illustrate acupuncture treatments and at the end of each chapter, a valuable summary of key points. My only criticism would be the number of inaccuracies in the acupuncture points recommended for treatment. For example, ‘Ki-43’ does not exist as there are only 27 points on the Kidney channel. Similarly, in a diagram of ‘forbidden points’ the location of BL-67 is in completely the wrong place. Hopefully these mistakes will be rectified in later editions. This book will be inspirational for all professionals working with pregnant women. As well as promoting acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment, Zita West has provided a valuable reference book enabling acupuncturists to confidently treat women in pregnancy and childbirth, working alongside western health practitioners. As nurse and midwives become familiar with the range and scope of acupuncture, it can only be of benefit to pregnant women, improving the care provided, so that they receive the very best of both conventional and complementary treatment.
ComplementaryTherapies in Nursing & Midwifery (2002) 8, 113^121 # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. doi:10.1054/ctnm.2002.0619, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Stephanie Downey Brighton Acupuncture Clinic, Brighton, Sussex, UK
115
representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally. K Merck & Co., Inc. is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health.
K Elsevier Science is the world’s leading scientific, technical and medical information provider and publishes over 1,600 journals, over 2000 books per year as well as secondary databases. Elsevier Science key brands include: Academic Press; Butterworth-Heinemann; Cell Press; ChurchillLivingstone; Engineering Information; Excerpta Medica; The Lancet; MD Consult; MDL; Mosby; North-Holland; Pergamon; ScienceDirect and WB Saunders. Else-
vier Science is a member of the Reed Elsevier plc group (www.reedelsevier.com), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the scientific, legal and business-to-business industry sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high value and flexible information solutions to professional end users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a delivery method (www.elsevier.com).
BOOK R E VIE W
Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth Zita West Churchill Livingstone ISBN: 0 443 061386 In 1993, Zita West set up a pioneering clinic at Warwick hospital (only the 2nd in the UK) to provide acupuncture on the NHS for pregnant women. The depth of her experience as both a midwife and acupuncturist makes her ideally placed to write a book in which she enthusiastically advocates the use of acupuncture in pregnancy and childbirth. The main strength of this book is its coverage of both conventional western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine as applied to the field of obstetrics. The scope is extensive, ranging from pre-conceptual to post-natal care, with each stage of pregnancy considered from eastern and western viewpoints. Each chapter follows a similar format, with a discussion of physiological changes in the progressing pregnancy, common symptoms and their causes, suggested treatments and nutritional advice. Equally informative for acupuncturists, midwives, and nurses, each profession will gain valuable insights into different perspectives of pregnancy and childbirth. While acupuncturists will be guided through the maze of NHS care and obstetric medical knowledge, midwives and nurses, will learn about the
Eastern philosophy of childbirth and the scope of acupuncture in treating common problems in pregnancy and childbirth. Some particular highlights of the diet include the comprehensive coverage of nutrition, diet, useful tips on needle techniques in pregnancy, case studies to illustrate acupuncture treatments and at the end of each chapter, a valuable summary of key points. My only criticism would be the number of inaccuracies in the acupuncture points recommended for treatment. For example, ‘Ki-43’ does not exist as there are only 27 points on the Kidney channel. Similarly, in a diagram of ‘forbidden points’ the location of BL-67 is in completely the wrong place. Hopefully these mistakes will be rectified in later editions. This book will be inspirational for all professionals working with pregnant women. As well as promoting acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment, Zita West has provided a valuable reference book enabling acupuncturists to confidently treat women in pregnancy and childbirth, working alongside western health practitioners. As nurse and midwives become familiar with the range and scope of acupuncture, it can only be of benefit to pregnant women, improving the care provided, so that they receive the very best of both conventional and complementary treatment.
ComplementaryTherapies in Nursing & Midwifery (2002) 8, 113^121 # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. doi:10.1054/ctnm.2002.0619, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Stephanie Downey Brighton Acupuncture Clinic, Brighton, Sussex, UK