[ozmidwifery] Worth a try?

[Mary Murphy]

Research to Remember A study to determine the potential pain-reducing effects of ice massage applied to various acupuncture points during labor included 49 pregnant women between the ages of 16 and 38 years. Ice massage, administered by way of crushed ice in a hand towel, was applied for 20 minutes or until the fourth contraction, whichever came first, to Large Intestine 4 (LI-4), located on the hand. The women rated intensity of pain during each contraction while the ice was applied; on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 indicated mild discomfort and 5 indicated extreme pain. A postpartum questionnaire revealed that pain had been decreased by 19% after ice massage was applied to the right hand and by nearly 50% to the left hand. LI-4 is located in the webbing between thumb and index finger on the back of the hand. — Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health 2003; 48:317–2