Review Article

Moxibustion for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Characteristics of each trial.

StudyDesignSample sizeIntervention typeControl group Moxibustion regimenOutcome measureAdverse events

Zhong 2014 [26]Parallel, 2 arms60 (30/30)Ginger-partitioned moxibustionSupportive treatment;
ondansetron only in serious vomiting occurs
From 3 days before to 14 days after chemotherapy, qdWHO;
KPS
Not reported
Zhang 2008 [25]Parallel, 3 arms90 (30/30/30)Ginger-partitioned moxibustionNo treatmentDuring the chemotherapy, qdEORTC QLQ-C30 v3.0;
KPS
No adverse events in both groups
Zhang 2016 [24]Parallel, 2 arms60 (30/30)Direct moxibustionConventional dosage of ondansetronOnce a day for 7 daysWHO;
KPS
Not reported
Ruan 2014 [18]Parallel, 2 arms91 (45/46)Herb-partitioned moxibustionOndansetron 8 mg, dexamethasone 5 mg, day 1 to day 3, qd
omeprazole 40 mg day 4 to day 7, qd
metoclopramide 10 mg, tid
Once a day for 14 daysWHONot reported
Zhong 2011 [23]Parallel, 2 arms58 (29/29)Ginger-partitioned moxibustionGranisetron hydrochloride 3 mg, before and after chemotherapyOnce a day for 3 daysWHONot reported
Xiang 2011 [21]Parallel, 2 arms60 (30/30)Direct moxibustionOndansetron hydrochloride 8 mg, before chemotherapy1 day before chemotherapy to 3 days after chemotherapyWHONot reported
Wang 2010 [19]Parallel, 2 arms60 (30/30)Direct moxibustionNo treatmentDuring the chemotherapy, qdWHO;
KPS
No adverse events in both groups
Zhou 2005 [20]Parallel, 2 arms100 (50/50)Direct moxibustionGranisetron hydrochloride 30 mg, before chemotherapyTwice a day for 7 daysESMONot reported
Xu 2014 [22]Parallel, 2 arms50 (25/25)Ginger-partitioned moxibustionPlacebo moxibustionFrom 5 days before to 60 days after chemotherapy, 3 times a weekEORTC QLQ-C30 v3.0;
KPS
Not reported
Liu 2010 [17]Parallel, 2 arms62 (32/30)Direct moxibustionConventional dosage of dexamethasone and ondansetronOnce a day for 7 daysWHO;
KPS
Not reported
Liang 2014 [16]Parallel, 2 arms68 (34/34)Ginger-partitioned moxibustionRanitidine 150 mg, granisetron 3 mg, and nutritional supportOnce a day for 63 daysWHO;
KPS
Not reported
Hao 2014 [15]Parallel, 2 arms61 (31/30)Direct moxibustionConventional dosage of dexamethasone, tropisetron, promethazine, and cimetidineDuring the chemotherapy, qdESMO;
EORTC QLQ-C30 v3.0
Not reported
Gao 2015 [14]Parallel, 2 arms60 (30/30)Direct moxibustionConventional dosage of dexamethasone, tropisetron, and lansoprazoleDuring the chemotherapy, 6 times a weekESMO;
KPS
Not reported
Li 2015 [27]Parallel, 2 arms169 (85/84)Moxa box moxibustionTropisetron hydrochloride 5 mgTwice a day for 8 daysESMONot reported
Ya 2010 [28]Parallel, 2 arms24 (12/12)Direct moxibustionConventional dosage of dexamethasone and ondansetronOnce a day for 5 daysEORTC QLQ-C30 v3.0Not reported
Zhang 2016 [29]Parallel, 2 arms50 (25/25)Direct moxibustionTropisetron 5 mg before chemotherapyOnce a day for 6 daysWHONot reported

Notes. WHO: WHO criterion for the acute and subacute toxicity of anticancer agents, KPS: Karnofsky performance score, EORTC QLQ-C30 v3.0: the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer’s questionnaire to assess the quality of life v3.0, and ESMO: the Eastern Society for Medical Oncology criterion.