A place for acupuncture in NAS treatment?

Adjunctive laser acupuncture reduces the need for morphine therapy in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). In a randomized trial in neonates with NAS, 28 infants received either laser acupuncture combined with pharmacologic therapy (morphine and phenobarbital) or pharmacologic therapy alone. Compared with those in the pharmacologic therapy alone group, infants who also received laser acupuncture required morphine therapy for a shorter period and had a significantly reduced hospital stay (Raith W, et al. Pediatrics. 2015;136[5]:876-884).

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Ms Freedman is a freelance medical editor and writer in New Jersey. She has nothing to disclose in regard to affiliations with or financial interests in any organizations that may have an interest in any part of this article.