Positive Effect of Acupuncture on Nausea and Vomiting

Dundee JW et al. Traditional Chinese acupuncture: a potentially useful antiemetic? British Medical Journal, 1986, 293:383–384.

(peri- and postoperative)
Group comparison
(1) Acupuncture plus meptazinol,
(2) Acupuncture plus nalbuphine
(3) Meptazinol
(4)Sham acupuncture plus nalbuphine
(5)Nalbuphine

Vomiting in group (1) was half that in group (3). There was a significantly lower incidence of emetic episodes in the acupuncture groups (1) and (2) than in the control groups (3), (4) and (5). There were no differences between the control groups (3), (4) and (5).

Acupuncture used to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy

Dundee JW et al. Acupuncture to prevent cisplatin-associated vomiting. Lancet, 1987, 1:1083. (cisplatin-associated)

Randomized crossover trial
Test group: Electric Acupuncture at nèiguan (PC6)
Control group: Electric acupuncture at "dummy" point

Sickness was significantly lower in the acupuncture group.

 

Acupuncture is significantly better at alleviating Chemotherapy induce nausea and vomiting compared to western medications.

Chen GP et al. [Observation of therapeutic effects of acupuncture in 44 cases with gastrointestinal reaction induced by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.] Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1996, 16(7):359–360 [in Chinese]. 44:23 Randomized controlled trial Western medication (metoclopramide, etc.)

Gastrointestinal reactions were alleviated significantly more often and sooner in the acupuncture group:

• 93.2% of test group (acupuncture group) after 5.8 ± 2.7 days of treatment
• 65.2% of control group (western medication group) after 9.4 ± 3.4 days of treatment.

Real acupuncture points work signficantly better than sham acupuncture points at treating chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

Dundee JW et al. Acupuncture prophylaxis of cancer chemotherapy-induced sickness. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 1989, 82:268–271. (chemotherapy-related) Group comparison Test group: Acupuncture at nèiguan (PC6)
Control group: Sham acupuncture

Effective rates were:
• 90% in the test group
• 10% in the control group.

 

Acupuncture better than western medications at reducing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

Liu A et al. [Clinical research on attenuating chemotherapeutic toxicity by acupoint stimulation therapy.] Shanghai Journal of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1998, 17(6):8–9 [in Chinese].

The test group received magnetic plus electric acupoint stimulation versus the control group getting Western medication (metoclopramide, etc.)

Acupoint stimulation therapy was comparable with intravenous metoclopramide for gastrointestinal reactions, and with dexamethasone and cysteine phenylacetate (leucogen) for leukopenia.

The treatment was effective in:

• 87.5% of the test group
• 75.0% of the control group.

 

Acupuncture better at treating chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting than western medications.

Wang SZ et al. [Clinical study on acupuncture control of gastrointestinal reactions to chemotherapy.] Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1997, 17(1):17–18 [in Chinese].

A Randomized crossover study comparing Body Acupuncture (manual stimulation) versus Western medication (metoclopramide)

The treatment was effective in:

• 85.6% of the test group
• 61.1% of the control group.

 

Xia YQ et al. [Acupuncture treatment of reactions due to radiotherapy in patients with malignant tumour.] Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion, 1984, 4(6):6–8 [in Chinese].

Trial Acupuncture during radiotherapy Radiotherapy Acupuncture greatly lessened digestive and nervous system reactions (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue) due to radiotherapy and showed protection against damage to haemoptoiesis.