Acupuncture stimulates salivary flow in patients with dry mouth (xerostomia)

Researchers at the renowned Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that acupuncture can stimulate salivary flow in patients with dry mouth/xerostomia. Patients with severe xerostomia who received acupuncture treatment showed increased salivary flow rates during and after the acupuncture treatment. The improved salivary values persisted during the observation year, whereas the patients who received placebo acupuncture showed some improvement of salivary flow rates only during the actual treatment. The results of the present study indicate that acupuncture may be a useful adjunct for the stimulation of salivary flow in some patients with xerostomia.

Journal reference:
Blom M, Dawidson I, Angmar-Månsson B. The effect of acupuncture on salivary flow rates in patients with xerostomia. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology 1992;73:293-298.