Effects and Mechanisms of Transcutaneous Electroacupuncture on Chemotherapy‐Induced Nausea and Vomiting

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting are one of the major complications of chemotherapy for cancers. The aim of this study is to investigate the emetic effects and mechanisms involving serotonin and dopamine of needleless transcutaneous electroacupuncture (TEA) at Neiguan (PC6) and Jianshi (PC5) on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with cancers. Seventy-two patients with chemotherapy were randomly divided into sham-TEA group (sham-TEA, n = 34) and TEA group (n = 38). TEA was performed at PC 6 and PC 5 (1 h, bid) in combination with granisetron. Sham-TEA was delivered at nonacupoints using the same parameters. We found the following. (1) In the acute phase, the conventional antiemetic therapy using Ondansetron effectively reduced nausea and vomiting; the addition of TEA did not show any additive effects. In the delayed phase, however, TEA significantly increased the rate of complete control (P < 0.01) and reduced the nausea score (P < 0.05), compared with sham-TEA. (2) TEA significantly reduced serum levels of 5-HT and dopamine in comparison with sham-TEA. Those results demonstrate that needleless transcutaneous electroacupuncture at PC6 using a watch-size digital stimulator improves emesis and reduces nausea in the delayed phase of chemotherapy in patients with cancers. This antiemetic effect is possibly mediated via mechanisms involving serotonin and dopamine.

Chemotherapy-Induced Pica in Rats Reduced by Electroacupuncture

“…Both 5‐HT and substance P levels were reported to increase in blood and the ileum after cisplatin treatment, which might directly activate AP to produce pica. Transcutaneous EA at 20 Hz was previously reported reduce nausea and vomiting, and the chemotherapy‐induced increase in serum levels of 5‐HT and dopamine in patients with chemotherapy . Further investigations are needed to study whether 5‐HT and dopamine are involved in the inhibitory effect of EA on the second day kaolin intake (delayed emesis).…”

“…a). EA of 20 Hz was reported to be effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy and reducing kaolin consumption in rats treated with cisplatin . With the fixed pulse width, 20 Hz was shown to be more effective than 10 Hz .…”

Similarities and Differences in East Asian Massage and Bodywork Therapies: A Critical Review

“…As evidence for the effects of electroacupuncture, other studies [42] use acupressure studies with Seabands [43], ReliefBands [44] and acupressure stimulation with a hard plastic ball fixed with a small bandage -for which the choice of point is based on Korean Acupuncture [45], while others mix the use of fingers and wristbands in the use of acupressure, assuming, without any evidence, that the effect of both is the same [46]. In 'Acupressure for prevention of pre-operative anxiety: a prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study' [47], a study with wristbands is used as evidence for the manual application of kneading acupressure [48].…”

Electroacupuncture treatments for gut motility disorders

“…For example, alternative uses of 2 and 100 Hz stimulation are commonly used for treating pain due to different effects of low‐frequency and high‐frequency stimulations on enkephalin and endorphin . A combinational use of 2 and 100 Hz stimulation has been shown to be effective in reducing chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting, and treating visceral pain . Low‐frequency stimulation is commonly used in cardiac applications .…”

“…19 A combinational use of 2 and 100 Hz stimulation has been shown to be effective in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and treating visceral pain. 20,21 Low-frequency stimulation is commonly used in cardiac applications. 22 Based on our experience, a stimulation frequency in the range of 15-25 Hz seems best for the enhancement of gastrointestinal motility.…”