Ezzo, J., Vickers, A., Richardson, M.A., Allen, C., Dibble, S.L., Issell, B., … Zhang, G. (2005). Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23, 7188-7198.

Database searched was MEDLINE (1966-Dec 2003).

Search keywords were acupuncture, alternative medicine, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, “injections, intramuscular”, “Medicine, Traditional Chinese”, acupressure, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and TENS. These were combined with nausea, vomiting, emesis, antiemetic therapy, and antineoplastic agents/adverse effects.

Studies were included in the review if they

• Were randomized.
• Involved patients receiving chemotherapy.
• Included an intervention that stimulated acupuncture points.
• Reported on nausea or vomiting as outcomes.

Studies were excluded from the review if they had a high possibility of bias.

In all, 14 studies were identified and reviewed.

In the nine studies that evaluated acute vomiting management via acupuncture-point stimulation, acute vomiting was reduced but nausea severity was not.

In the seven studies that assessed acute nausea via acupressure, acute nausea severity was reduced.

Three studies that evaluated delayed vomiting did not support the intervention.

In the five studies using acupuncture-point stimulation, the intervention did not reduce delayed vomiting.

The pooled results of 11 studies using acupuncture-point stimulation plus antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) showed significant reduction in acute vomiting and marginal statistical significance for reducing acute nausea.

Electroacupuncture provided protective effects for acute vomiting, but acupuncture did not. Acupressure was effective for acute nausea in patients using “state-of-the-art” antiemetics. However, placebo effects may have influenced results.