A pilot study carried out in Italy suggests that acupuncture may reduce the pain of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). BMS, for which no medical or dental cause can be found, most commonly affects older women. It is considered to be a form of neuropathic pain and no satisfactory treatment is currently available for it. Ten BMS patients received 20 sessions of acupuncture over eight weeks. Local acupoints on the face and neck were individually selected for each patient based on TCM principles, and combined with standard distal points (Hegu L.I.-4, Sanyinjiao SP-6, Baihui GV-20, Luozhen M-UE-24 and auricular Shenmen). Patients reported a mean reduction in pain of 0.99 points on a visual analogue scale, which, although slight, was statistically significant. No significant improvement in quality of life scores was observed, although subjects receiving acupuncture treatment seemed better able cope with their oral symptoms. (Acupuncture and Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Pilot Study. Pain Pract. 2013 Jan 21. doi: 10.1111/papr.12031. [Epub ahead of print]).
Categories: Nose and mouth
