Acupuncture for xerostomia

Acupuncture for xerostomia: clinical update.

BACKGROUND In the authors' clinic, patients with xerostomia after radiation therapy for malignancy have been offered acupuncture as potential palliation of their symptoms since November 1999. Preliminary data revealed that many patients achieve relief, even for symptoms refractory to pilocarpine therapy. METHODS Acupuncture technique has been refined since the authors' previous publication. O...

Acupuncture and xerostomia.

Acupuncture in xerostomia--a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of xerostomia. Assessing quality of studies aim to efficiently integrate valid information and provide a basis for sound decision making based on the best available evidence. Articles of controlled clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of xerostomia were obtained by s...

Acupuncture in the treatment of xerostomia: clinical report.

This article reviews the etiology and symptomatology of xerostomia and approaches for treating it, including the use of acupuncture. Seven xerostomia patients who were treated using acupuncture and the subsequent results of that treatment are discussed. Actual outcomes exceeded the author's expectations with all patients reporting an increase in salivary flow and the ability to eat and speak an...

Group acupuncture to relieve radiation induced xerostomia: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND a distressing complication of radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer is xerostomia (chronic oral dryness). Xerostomia is difficult to treat conventionally but there are reports that acupuncture can help. We conducted a feasibility study to examine the acceptability of a standardised group acupuncture technique and adherence to group sessions, together with acceptability of t...