Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40386086›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of women's health2025

Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: An Overview and Quality Assessment of Systematic Reviews.

Su-Ji Choi, Seoyoon Choi, Dong-Il Kim

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of women's health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Su-Ji ChoiDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-eui University, Busan, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-6068-5270
Seoyoon ChoiDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0009-0003-8124-7100
Dong-Il KimDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0009-0000-7926-9990

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Up to 85% of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP), which can impact both the pregnant woman and developing fetus. Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) including acupuncture and herbal medicine has been used to treat NVP; however, its effectiveness remains under debate. This study aimed to systematically review the existing evidence from systematic reviews on the effectiveness of TEAM for NVP and to critically evaluate the quality of these reviews. Methods: Nine databases were searched from their inception until January 2024. Search terms included, "Hyperemesis gravidarum", "Nausea", "Vomiting", "acupuncture" and "herbal medicine". Systematic reviews (SRs) that evaluated the effect of TEAM treatment for NVP were included. We evaluated methodological quality, reporting quality, and risk of bias using the AMSTAR-2, ROBIS tool, and PRISMA guidelines. Results: In total, 20,121 publications were retrieved from the databases. Twenty-five SRs met the inclusion criteria, indicating that acupuncture and related techniques, and herbal medicines are effective in alleviating NVP. Various methods including traditional acupuncture, acupressure, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture, herbal acupoint patching, and herbal decoctions were used. Herbs like ginger and additional aromatherapies such as lemon and cardamom have also shown beneficial effects. However, there are controversies regarding the consistency of results and the quality of methodologies. Despite low risk of bias across reviews, all were deemed low or critically low in methodological quality, with none fully adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Conclusion: This comprehensive review underscores the potential of TEAM in managing NVP but highlights significant gaps in research quality and reporting. Future studies of higher methodological quality are essential to validate these findings and guide clinical practice.

Indexed as

acupuncturecomplementary therapiesherbal medicinemorning sicknesssystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40386086
PMCPMC12081951

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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 OpenQuestion graph.