Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Feb; 74(3): 691-9.

The effect of electroacupuncture as an adjunct on cyclophosphamide-induced emesis in ferrets.

Lao L, Zhang G, Wong RH, Carter AK, Wynn RL, Berman BM.

Complementary Medicine Program, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. [email protected]

The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cyclophosphamide-induced emesis in ferrets was studied at acupuncture point Neiguan (P6) with various electrical stimulation parameters (5-100 Hz, 1.5-3 V, 5-20 min, n=6/group). The combination therapy of EA (100 Hz, 1.5 V and 10 min) with the lower doses of ondansetron (0.04 mg/kg), droperidol (0.25 mg/kg) and metoclopramide (2.24 mg/kg) significantly reduced the total number of emetic episodes by 52%, 36% and 73%, respectively, as well as the number of emetic episodes in the first phase as compared to the sham acupuncture control (P<.01). These EA/drug combinations also showed a significant effect in preventing emesis as compared to either EA or drug alone (P<.05). The present study suggests that acupuncture may be useful as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced emesis.