Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8692663 | Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies | 2016 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
When nausea, an extremely unpleasant symptom, is experienced during dental treatment, it generates disorders and obstacles for both the patient and the professional, compromising the good quality of dental care. Clinical studies have confirmed the antiemetic action of acupuncture and shown its use for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. In the scientific literature there are several recent studies that address the placebo effect of acupuncture. The aim of this manuscript is to present a case report of a 46-year-old Caucasian male patient, who had severe symptoms of nausea while undergoing dental care. Treatment with sham acupuncture (acupuncture simulation) obtained a positive result of nausea prevention. We will discuss three possible hypotheses concerning this result: (1) there was action of Deqi; (2) high expectations of the patient; and (3) association with specific learned response. The patient in this case report received nonpenetrating sham acupuncture at acupoint Neiguan (PC6), which resulted in the complete remission of nausea during an intra-oral impression-taking procedure, but it is unclear whether the placebo effect was triggered by the action of Deqi, the high expectations of the patient, an association with a learned response, or by the interaction of all these factors.
Related Topics
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Medicine and Dentistry
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Authors
Vera Lucia Rasera Zotelli, Cássia Maria Grillo, Maria da Luz Rosário de Sousa,