Acupuncture targeting the minor salivary glands for dry mouth: a case report.

Abstract

Two distressing symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome are dry mouth and dry eyes, but to date no cure has been established.1 Xerostomia, caused by decreased production of saliva, leads to reduced quality of life, with oral discomfort and dryness leading to excessive drinking of fluids, difficulty speaking and weight loss due to difficulty swallowing food. Herein, we explored acupuncture as an alternative treatment approach for xerostomia in a patient with Sjögren’s syndrome who had not responded to pharmacotherapy.