SynthesisSystematic reviews2025
Acupoint stimulation for postpartum breastfeeding insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Systematic reviews, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effectiveness of non-pharmacological traditional Chinese medicine therapies in promoting human milk feeding outcomes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.International breastfeeding journal · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundInsufficient lactation, known as hypogalactia, is an important reason for weaning. To date, no effective methods have been established to increase lactation volume. With the advantages of low cost and convenience, acupoint stimulation-defined as any stimulation applied at acupoints-is a promising option.
objectivesThe aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupoint stimulation for postpartum breastfeeding insufficiency.
methodsA systematic search of seven databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CNKI, Airiti Library, ClinicalTrials.gov) was performed from their inception dates to September 30, 2023. Randomized trials were included. The inclusion criteria of the intervention included acupuncture, acupressure (including tuina and massage), electroacupuncture, laser stimulation, catgut embedding, and auriculotherapy. The primary outcomes were the amount of lactation and the level of prolactin. Secondary outcomes were colostrum time and adverse effects. The risks of bias were assessed using RoB 2.0.
resultsTwenty-four studies involving 3214 participants were included. When compared to the control group, the experimental group exhibited improved volume of milk production (MD = 81.30; 95% CI = 58.94-103.67) and higher prolactin levels (MD = 41.90, 95% CI = 28.57-55.22). Colostrum time was shorter in the control group ([MD = - 7.26; 95% CI = - 10.69 to - 3.83] for continuous data; [RR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.38-2.08] for dichotomous data). Adverse effects were reported in only one trial, which included three cases of fear of acupuncture and one case of hypotension.
conclusionsAcupoint stimulation may have beneficial effects on postpartum breastfeeding insufficiency. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the presence of risks of bias and heterogeneity among studies.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.