Hello,
I am 10 months post radiation/chemo and was having a really miserable time with dry mouth. I had read online that acupuncture could help, so desperate I gave it a try 3 months ago. I went to an MD and acupuncturist who has worked with some post-rad patients. After 3 sessions, I started to get some saliva, slightly thick, but better than the kind you get with salagan. I'm continuing with the treatments and although the saliva isn't always there, the dryness is certainly not as bad and swallowing is better. I know it wasn't from my glands healing on their own, because on the days I get acupuncture there is definitely more saliva. So anyone suffering from dry mouth give it a try, researchers have also found that if you have acupuncture during rad treatment it can help with salivary flow as well.
Peace to all!

Hi Pamela,
I would be really interested to know more. My husband Neil (tonsil cancer diagnosed August 2006)has,like you,had a dry mouth since his chemo & radiotherapy. About a year ago he went for acupuncture for 12 weeks but it did no good at all. I have read online that acupuncture for dry mouth involves putting the needles in the ears - is this what happened with you - it didn't with Neil so I wondered if he had the correct treatment. He was also given Chinese tea which tastest and smelled awful - but again it had no effect whatsoever.
I am really pleased it has helped you....maybe if he had different treatment it could help him too.
Warmest regards
Margaret

Click for: past posts on acupuncture and dry mouth.

Hi Mags & Neil,
I been having chinese acupuncture and have not yet had any needles put in the ears. I haven't had a full body treatment, yet, so maybe I will wind up having needles put there. The doctor's main focus seems to be the scalp (not a good feeling, get weird nerve pains there). I understand what your husband is going through and the quality of life is very diminished by this condition. Even a slight improvement can make a difference, like a bit of a cleaner mouth after eating.
I'm sorry to hear Neil did not have success with it, some people do not, maybe his parotids got hit too intensely. There are clinical trials for salivary gene replacement (although must be 5 years post treatment, no recurrence) going on in the US, that was seriously going to be my next step if it didn't start improving. There is hope down the road. Best Wishes and Regards.