[Herb-spreading moxibustion as an adjuvant treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting of spleen and stomach deficiency cold in gastric cancer: a randomized controlled trial].

Researchers in China studied whether herb-spreading moxibustion could help gastric cancer patients experiencing nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. The study involved 76 patients who were diagnosed with what Traditional Chinese Medicine calls "spleen and stomach deficiency cold" pattern. All participants received standard chemotherapy and anti-nausea medications, but half also received a special moxibustion treatment. This involved applying heated herbal preparations (using a formula called Fuzi Lizhong decoction) over the abdomen for about 50 minutes daily, covering an area from the upper abdomen to the navel. Treatment consisted of three courses, each lasting three days with one-day breaks in between. The results showed that patients receiving moxibustion experienced significantly less nausea and vomiting, particularly by days 7 and 14 of chemotherapy. Their quality of life scores improved more than the control group, and they showed better improvement in traditional Chinese medicine symptoms like cold limbs, fatigue, and poor appetite. The obvious effectiveness rate was 58.3% in the moxibustion group compared to only 24.3% in the control group. No adverse events occurred in either group, suggesting the treatment is safe. This research suggests that herb-spreading moxibustion may be a valuable complementary therapy for managing chemotherapy side effects in gastric cancer patients with this specific pattern presentation. If considering this treatment, work with a qualified acupuncturist trained in moxibustion techniques and Chinese herbal medicine.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated herb-spreading moxibustion as adjuvant therapy for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in 76 gastric cancer patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold pattern. The treatment group (n=36 completed) received Fuzi Lizhong decoction moxibustion over the Zhongwan (CV12) area extending from Shangwan (CV13) to Shenque (CV8) and laterally to the Kidney meridian, 50 minutes daily for three 3-day courses with 1-day intervals, alongside standard cisplatin+tegafur chemotherapy and antiemetics. Controls (n=37) received conventional treatment only. The moxibustion group demonstrated significantly lower nausea grades at days 7 and 14 (P<0.05) and vomiting grades at days 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.05-0.01). KPS scores were significantly higher in the treatment group at days 7 and 14 (P<0.01). The obvious effectiveness rate was 58.3% versus 24.3% (P<0.01), with superior TCM syndrome scores post-treatment and no adverse events. This suggests herb-spreading moxibustion effectively manages CINV in this patient subgroup.