Acupuncture and Acupressure Consistently Boost Milk Production and Prolactin Levels in Lactating Women

Insufficient milk supply is a common and distressing issue for new mothers, often leading to early cessation of breastfeeding. While pharmacological options exist, many mothers seek non-pharmacological alternatives due to concerns about side effects or personal preference. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices like acupuncture and acupressure have long been claimed to stimulate lactation by influencing hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin, but robust evidence aligned with modern guidelines has been historically challenging to establish.

Two comprehensive meta-analyses synthesized data from numerous studies investigating the efficacy of acupuncture and acupressure interventions for low postpartum milk supply. These reviews evaluated various modalities, including standalone acupressure, massage plus acupressure, acupuncture with auricular points, and electroacupuncture. The studies assessed outcomes such as breast milk volume, serum prolactin levels, exclusive breastfeeding rates, time to lactogenesis II, infant weight, and maternal perception of milk production. Control arms varied, including standard care, non-specific acupuncture points, or pharmacological interventions like domperidone.

The meta-analyses consistently found that acupressure improved milk production and increased serum prolactin levels. Specifically, massage plus acupressure emerged as the optimal intervention, significantly increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates and shortening the time to lactogenesis II. For enhancing breast milk volume and serum prolactin levels, acupuncture plus auricular points sticking-pressing demonstrated superior efficacy. Among standalone non-pharmacological therapies, massage and acupressure consistently showed effectiveness across all measured outcomes. Studies highlighted specific acupuncture points like CV 17, SI 1, ST 18, ST 36, and LR 3 as beneficial. One notable finding was that electroacupuncture applied at the traditional lactation stimulation site SI 1 increased serum prolactin, infant weight, and maternal perception of milk production more effectively than domperidone alone. No serious adverse effects were reported among lactating women receiving these interventions.

Electroacupuncture at SI 1 increased serum prolactin and infant weight more than domperidone alone.