East West Acupuncture

East West Acupuncture

HomeLearn about acupunctureTai Chi about us FAQTestimonials

Other Conditions

acupuncture

XEROSTOMIA (DRY MOUTH)

Acupuncture can increase salivary flow rates in patients with xerostomia (dry mouth) associated with chemotherapy or Sjögren’s syndrome. Significant increases in salivary flow rates following a single course of acupuncture treatment have lasted during a long observation period (up to 6 months), and it is suggested that additional acupuncture therapy can maintain this improvement for up to 3 years. Possible explanations for the effects include release of neuropeptides that stimulate the salivary glands and increased blood flow.


J Palliat Care 1999 Winter;15(4):20-3 Acupuncture for patients in hospital-based home care suffering from xerostomia. Rydholm M, Strang P. Hospital-Based Home Care Unit, Motala Hospital, Sweden. CONCLUSIONS: “Acupuncture had a dramatic effect on xerostomia and, subsequently, on dysphagia and articulation, with subjects showing definite improvement after 5 treatments. Release of neuropeptides that stimulate the salivary glands and increased blood flow are possible explanations for the effects.”

Oral Dis 2000 Jan;6(1):15-24 Long-term follow-up of patients treated with acupuncture for xerostomia and the influence of additional treatment. Blom M, Lundeberg T. Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Karolinska Institute, Box 4064, S-141 04 Huddinge, Sweden. CONCLUSIONS: “This study shows that acupuncture treatment results in statistically significant improvements in SFR in patients with xerostomia up to 6 months. It suggests that additional acupuncture therapy can maintain this improvement in SFR for up to 3 years.”

Cancer 2002 Feb 15;94(4):1151-6 Acupuncture for xerostomia: clinical update.
Johnstone PA, Niemtzow RC, Riffenburgh RH. Radiation Oncology Service, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California 92134-1014, USA. CONCLUSION: “Acupuncture palliates xerostomia for many patients. A regimen of three to four weekly treatments followed by monthly sessions is now recommended, although some patients achieve lasting response without further therapy.”

Goidenko V S, Pierminova I S, Sitiel A B 1985 Use of auricular acupuncture reflexotherapy in treating Sjögren’s disease. Stomatologia 64:47-48

Blom M, Dawidson I, Angmar-Mansson B 1992 The effect of acupuncture on salivary flow rates in patients with xerostomia. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology
73(3):293-298

Brennan MT, Shariff G, Lockhart PB, Fox PC. Treatment of xerostomia: a systematic review of therapeutic trials. Dent Clin North Am. 2002 Oct;46(4):847-56.

Neuropeptides 1999 Jun;33(3):244-50 Sensory stimulation (acupuncture) increases the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the saliva of xerostomia sufferers. Dawidson I, Angmar-Mansson B, Blom M, Theodorsson E, Lundeberg T. Department of Cariology, Karolinska Institutet, Box 4064, Huddinge, 141 04, Sweden

 

 

 


Share/Save/Bookmark