Can Acupuncture Help Ease Xerostomia?

Xerostomia (dry mouth) is one of the most problematic effects of radiation therapy for patients with head and neck cancer because the condition is associated with oral discomfort, difficulty and pain with swallowing, dental caries, and oral infections. Although intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has the potential to prevent or alleviate xerostomia, IMRT has not eliminated the problem. Pharmacologic agents and mechanical devices that stimulate salivary flow help only a small percentage of patients and are limited by side effects. Thus, new treatments are needed. Findings from a number of studies show that acupuncture can improve salivary flow. To examine whether acupuncture can reverse radiation-induced xerostomia, the authors cond…