ARIX: A randomised trial of acupuncture v oral care sessions in patients with chronic xerostomia following treatment of head and neck cancer

Abstract

Eight sessions of weekly group acupuncture compared with group oral care education provide significantly better relief of symptoms in patients suffering from chronic radiation-induced xerostomia.

Acupuncture for the relief of odynophagia and xerostomia after chemoradiation therapy in oropharyngeal cancer: a case report

“…The results of this case study also support previous studies that found acupuncture to be effective in stimulating saliva and improving xerostomia [12][13][14][15][16]. This case study differs from prior studies by reporting the use of a combination of manual acupuncture, auricular acupuncture, and electro-acupuncture looking specifically at the impact on odynophagia.…”

“…It has been found in previous studies to be effective in reducing dysphagia symptom severity in head and neck cancer patients [8][9][10][11]. Acupuncture has also been found in previous studies to be effective in stimulating saliva and improving xerostomia [12][13][14][15][16]. Although previous studies have reported the use of acupuncture on dysphagia and xerostomia following chemoradiation therapy in head and neck cancer; to our knowledge, no one has previously reported the use of acupuncture looking specifically at the impact on odynophagia, or painful swallowing.…”

Xerostomia of Various Etiologies: A Review of the Literature

“…According to Simcock et al, marked alleviation of dryness can be observed as early as after eight acupuncture sessions. The acupuncture-treated group showed improvement when compared to the controls, in whom education regarding oral hygiene was the only form of intervention [49].…”

Radiation Induced Xerostomia: Current Concepts and Future Trends

“…Alternative modes of therapies reported for radiation induced xerostomia include hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), acupuncture, and electro stimulation. But long term results from these still warrant evidences 29 . New improvements in radiotherapy would aim for better conformed radiation beam to the best fit of the lesion with reduced volume of normal tissue exposure.…”