Introduction

Xerostomia is a clinical condition characterized by a decrease in the production of saliva.  It may present itself as a local symptom; as part of a systemic disease such as Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetics, alcoholism; as side effects of medications; or following therapeutic radiation to the head and neck regions.¹  Xerostomia can lead to difficulties in patients receiving prosthetic treatments.  The comfort and retention of removable dentures depends largely on the lubricating ability of saliva; dry mucosa can compromise the retention of prosthesis.  Furthermore, saliva flow facilitates mastication, formation of food bolus and swallowing, and plays an important role in articulation and speech.²

Blom et al.³ demonstrated a significant increase in salivary flow during and after acupuncture treatment in patients with severe xerostomia.  In a long-term follow-up of patients treated with acupuncture for xerostomia, Blom and Lundeberg⁴ showed acupuncture could significantly result in improvement in salivary flow rate for up to 6 months.  They also showed additional acupuncture therapy could maintain such improvement in salivary flow rate for up to 3 years.⁴  Furthermore, Johnstone et al.⁵ demonstrated acupuncture could provide palliation in patients with pilocarpine-resistant xerostomia following head and neck radiotherapy.  Dawidson et al.⁶ found the release of several neuropeptides in the saliva of healthy subjects could be increased by acupuncture.  The same researchers also demonstrated the increased release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) could be one of the factors that increases the salivary flow rate in xerostomic patients treated with acupuncture⁷, but the mechanisms of action remain essentially unknown.

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Citation Number: Vol. 5, No. 4, Page 134