Infrared Laser Moxibustion Safe and Efficacious for Improving Cancer-related Fatigue

Infrared laser moxibustion may be safe and efficacious for improving cancer-related fatigue, according to a Chinese population study published in Cancer.¹

Researchers led by Huijuan Mao, MD, PhD, of the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 61 patients with cancer, each of whom were diagnosed with cancer-related fatigue, to evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of 10.6-μm infrared laser moxibustion.

Patients treated with infrared laser moxibustion received the treatment on the ST36 (bilateral), CV4, and CV6 acupoints, while the other group received the same treatment on the same acupoints but without infrared laser output.

Outcome was change in fatigue as measured by the Chinese version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory between the groups at week 4, with additional evaluation at week 8 for the durability of treatment effects.

Those treated with the laser had significantly less fatigue than those in the non-laser output group. Improvement in fatigue was found to have persisted to week 8, with favorability toward the laser moxibustion group.

The laser moxibustion treatment was found to be safe, with 3 cases of mild local erythema that resolved without medical intervention.

Reference

1. Mao H, Mao JJ, Guo M, et al. Effects of infrared laser moxibustion on cancer-related fatigue: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer. 2016 Aug 2. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30189 [Epub ahead of print]