Treatment Of Medically Refractory Chronic Daily Vomiting With Acupuncture And Chinese Herbal Medicine: A Case Report

This case demonstrates the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to resolve chronic idiopathic daily vomiting, which was refractory to standard medical treatment. The patient presented with severe chronic daily vomiting (10 to 20 times a day), with no attributable cause discovered from a complete laboratory workup and extensive imaging. Prior to seeking alternative therapies, the patient had been managed with conventional medication, however symptom resolution was not achieved. Over a period of 15 weekly acupuncture sessions and concurrent treatment with Chinese herbal medication, the number of vomiting episodes was reduced to fewer than two every other day, with complete resolution by week 15. This report adds to the medical literature by expanding the potential treatment options for those with chronic daily nausea and vomiting not related to pregnancy or chemotherapy.