Moxa for breech baby

 

If your midwife finds your baby to be in breech presentation, they may suggest that you consult an acupuncture practitioner for moxibustion treatment.

Week 34 is considered the optimal time for starting moxibustion treatment to attempt to turn a breech baby. Moxibustion is the burning of the herb moxa (artemisia vulgaris) and this is done is such a way that warmth is applied to the acupuncture point Bl 67 Zhi Yin located on the outside of the little toe. Just one appointment needs to be booked with the acupuncturist to check for contra-indications and to receive a demonstatration, full tuition and moxa supplies. You need to be prepared to repeat the procedure every day for 10 days.

A Dutch study published in 2010 appears to suggest that the number of breech presentations at term could be reduced. In this study the moxa treatment is started at 33 weeks.

A Cochrane review in 2023 found moderate-certainty evidence that moxibustion plus usual care probably reduces the chance of non-cephalic presentation at birth.

References:

Coyle M.E., Smith C.A., & Peat B. (2023) Cephalic version by moxibustion for breech presentation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023

Van den Berg, I., Kaandorp, G.C., Bosch, J.L., Duvekot, J.J., Arends, L. R. & Hunink, M. G. (2010) Cost-effectiveness of breech version by acupuncture-type interventions on BL 67, including moxibustion, for women with a breech foetus at 33 weeks gestation: a modelling approach. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 18(2):67-77.