Acupuncture eases neck cancer's dry mouth

HOUSTON, April 21 (UPI) -- Twice weekly acupuncture treatments relieve debilitating symptoms of severe dry mouth among head and neck cancer patients, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center said dry mouth -- xerostomia -- develops after the salivary glands have been exposed to repeated doses of therapeutic radiation.

People who have cancers of the head and neck typically receive large cumulative doses, rendering the salivary glands incapable of producing adequate saliva, senior author Mark S. Chambers, a professor in the department of dental oncology, said in a statement.

Saliva substitutes, lozenges and chewing gum bring only temporary relief, and the commonly prescribed medication, pilocarpine, has short-lived benefits and bothersome side effects of its own, Chambers said.

"The quality of life in patients with radiation-induced xerostomia is profoundly impaired," Chambers said.

"Symptoms can include altered taste acuity, dental decay, infections of the tissues of the mouth and difficulty with speaking, eating and swallowing. Conventional treatments have been less than optimal, providing short-term response at best."

The findings are published in the online issue of Head & Neck.