RESUMEN
Objective To observe efficacy of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods for treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Methods One hundred and sixty-three cases were randomly divided into electroacupuncture group (42 cases), warm acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture group (37 cases), ginger moxibustion group (44 cases) and control group (40 cases). All groups received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Three acupuncture and moxibustion groups received electroacupuncture, warm acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture, ginger moxibustion to stimulate bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Neiguan (PC6), respectively, once a day. The control group was given tropisetron hydrochloride 5 mg+normal saline 100 mL, 30 min before chemotherapy intravenously, once a day to the end of chemotherapy. The number and degree of vomiting and the serum 5-HT content were tested, and the safety test was conducted. Results The complete control rate and effective control rate of acute vomiting of electroacupuncture group and warm acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture group were higher than those of ginger moxibustion group and control group (P<0.05). The complete control rate of delayed vomiting in warm acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture group was significantly higher than that of electroacupuncture group, ginger moxibustion group and control group (P<0.05); The effective control rate was higher than that of ginger moxibustion group and control group (P<0.05); Electroacupuncture group and Ginger moxibustion group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). The scores of acute vomiting in electroacupuncture group and warm acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture group were lower than others (P<0.05). In delayed vomiting, warm acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture group's score was lower than other groups, with statistical significance (P<0.05); Electroacupuncture group and ginger moxibustion group were lower than that incontrol groups, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The levels of serum 5-HT in electroacupuncture group and ginger moxibustion group were higher than warm acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture group (P<0.05), but lower than the control group (P<0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were found in each group. Conclusion Different acupuncture methods had different clinical effects on acute vomiting and delayed vomiting caused by chemotherapy.