The study was to explore whether auricular acupressure (AA) can relieve anxiety during the period from trans-vaginal oocyte retrieval to the embryo transfer in IVF treatment and whether AA can improve the outcomes of IVF. 305 infertile patients with tubal blockage who were referred for IVF were included. The women were randomized into a control group with 102 cases, a Sham-AA group with 102 cases and an AA group with 101 cases. The anxiety levels were rated with Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale. Data of clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate (LBR) were obtained. The levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) in the follicular fluids were detected with ELISA. After treatment, in AA group, the levels of state anxiety, preoperative anxiety and need-for-information were significantly lower, whereas CPR, IR, LBR and NPY levels in the follicular fluids were markedly higher than Sham-AA group and control group. We concluded that AA could help to reduce anxiety levels associated with IVF and improves the outcomes of IVF partly through increasing the levels of NPY in the follicular fluids.

Pre-operative anxiety is associated with many unwanted effects such as increased analgesic and anaesthetic requirement, postoperative pain and prolonged hospital stay. In the present study, we investigated the effects of acupressure on pre-operative anxiety and bispectral index (BIS) values. Seventy-six adults, ASA grade I and II, undergoing elective surgery, were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Group 1 (control) received acupressure at an inappropriate site and group 2 (acupressure) received acupressure at extra 1 point. The study was conducted during the pre-operative period and the duration of the study was 40 min (acupressure was applied for 10 min and thereafter patients were observed for another 30 min). Anxiety was recorded on a visual stress scale (VSS) at the start of the study and thereafter at 10 and 40 min. BIS was recorded at 0, 2, 5, 10, 12, 15, 30 and 40 min. The VSS decreased in both groups following pressure application for 10 min: median VSS (interquartile range) were 5 (1) vs. 8 (1) in the acupressure and 7 (0) vs. 8 (1) in the control groups (p < 0.001). Both pre-operative anxiety and BIS decreased significantly during acupressure application at extra 1 point (p < 0.001). Acupressure is effective in decreasing both pre-operative anxiety and BIS; however, these effects are not sustained 30 min following release of acupressure. Further studies are needed to elucidate the duration for which acupressure is effective.

INTRODUCTION:Constipation can be one of the biggest health problems for the older people that has negative effects on their quality of life. Some studies have reported that new non-pharmacological interventions such auricular acupressure have promising results in the management of constipation. This study was performed to investigate the effect of auricular acupressure on constipation and health-related quality of life in the older people living in the residential care home. METHODS:Sample of this randomized clinical trial consisted of 53 older people with chronic constipation living in a residential care home in the southeast of Iran (Kerman city). The participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 27) and control (n = 26) groups. Auricular acupressure was applied to seven auricular acupoints (large intestine, rectum, San Jiao, spleen, lung, sympathetic, and subcortex) using Vaccaria seeds for the intervention group and for the control group, seedless auricular plasters were used at the seven auricular acupoints for 10 days. Data were collected before the intervention, end of the intervention, and 10-day follow-up using demographic and clinical, Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptom, and Patient Assessment of Constipation-Quality of Life questionnaires. The SPSS-22 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS:The difference between groups and times was significant in constipation and related quality of life and scores. The mean score of constipation at the end of intervention was 0.41 less in the intervention group than the control group (P < 0.0001). This mean score, in the intervention group also on the 10-day follow-up was 0.09 less than the control group (P = 0.004), which indicates a decrease in the severity of constipation symptoms. In the intervention group, mean score of quality of life related to constipation at the end of intervention and the 10-day follow-up was 0.56 and 0.19 less than the control group (Decrease in the mean score of quality of life related to constipation indicates an improvement in the quality of life) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:The results showed the positive effect of auricular acupressure on reducing the severity of constipation symptoms and improving the quality of life in old patients living in the residential care home. This non-pharmaceutical practice can be used by nurses as an inexpensive, safe, acceptable, and non-invasive nursing care for older people with constipation in homes, medical centers, or nursing homes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of auricular acupressure on bowel symptoms, stress, mental health, and heart rate variability in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A quasi-experimental study design with a nonequivalent control group assessed a total sample of 56 women diagnosed with IBS according to Rome III criteria. There were 29 women in the experimental group who received auricular acupressure; 27 women were in the control group. Semen sinapis albae seeds were used to administer acupressure to four auricular points: endocrine, large intestine, lung, and Shenmen for 5 days/week for 4 weeks; the control group received no treatment. Bowel symptoms, stress, mental health, and heart rate variability were measured twice, once before and once after the intervention. Chi-square tests, t tests, and paired t tests were used for analysis. The experimental group had decreased loose stools, abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, stress, and heart rate variability compared with the control group (p < .05). Auricular acupressure was effective for symptom improvement in patients with IBS.

PURPOSE:To examine the effect of auricular acupressure therapy on primary dysmenorrhea among female high school students in South Korea. DESIGN:A randomized controlled trial was employed. METHODS:The study sample consisted of 91 female high school students, with 45 participants in the experimental group and 46 in the control group in two regions of South Korea. The average age of the participants was 16.7 years, and the average age of menarche was 12.2 years. Auricular acupressure therapy including an auricular acupressure needle on skin paper tape was applied on an ear for 3 days during periods of extreme primary dysmenorrhea. The acupoint names were Jagung, Sinmun, Gyogam, and Naebunbi. For the placebo control group, only the skin paper tape without an auricular acupressure needle was applied on the same acupoints. Measures used were the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire to assess primary dysmenorrhea, and the visual analog scale to assess abdominal and back pain of participants. FINDINGS:There were significant differences on abdominal pain (t = 24.594, p < .001), back pain (t = 22.661, p < .001), and primary dysmenorrhea (t = 32.187, p < .001) between the two groups. Auricular acupressure therapy decreased abdominal pain, back pain, and primary dysmenorrhea of female high school students in South Korea. CONCLUSIONS:Auricular acupressure therapy was an effective intervention for alleviating abdominal pain, back pain, and primary dysmenorrhea of female high school students in South Korea. For feasibility of the auricular acupressure therapy in practice, it is needed to train and learn the exact positions of acupoints in ear. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Health providers should consider providing auricular acupressure therapy as an alternative method for reducing abdominal and back pain, and primary dysmenorrhea in female high school students in South Korea.

Importance:Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and there is increasing interest in nonpharmacological treatments. Auricular acupuncture (AA) is a simple, low-cost, and well-tolerated option, but further studies are needed to establish its efficacy and safety. Objective:To estimate the efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture as a treatment for depression. Design, Setting, and Participants:This randomized clinical trial was conducted at 4 university research centers in Brazil, from March to July 2023. Eligible patients were adults aged 18 to 50 years whose score on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) indicated moderate depression (score 10-14) or moderately severe depression (score 15-19). Exclusion criteria included previous application of AA, risk of suicidal ideation, or severe depression (PHQ-9 score >20). An intent-to-treat analysis and modified intent-to-treat analysis were conducted. Intervention:Participants were randomized into 2 treatment groups, which included specific AA (SA) and nonspecific AA (NSA). Both groups received 12 sessions of AA with semipermanent needles with daily stimulation twice a week over 6 weeks and were followed-up for 3 months. All participants continued with their usual care for ethical reasons. The SA group's treatment protocol consisted of 6 acupuncture points on the auricular pavilion chosen according to the diagnosis of depression by traditional Chinese medicine (Shenmen, subcortex, heart, lung, liver, and kidney). The NSA group's acupuncture points were the external ear, the cheek and face area, and 4 nonspecific points in the helix region unassociated with mental health symptoms. A locator device was used to confirm which areas had neuroreactive points. Main Outcomes and Measures:The primary outcome was a reduction of at least 50% in the PHQ-9 score (ie, depression recovery) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included depression recovery at 4 and 6 weeks; depression remission (PHQ-9 score < 5) at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months); and adverse events. Results:A total of 304 participants were screened, and 74 participants (62 women [84%]; median [IQR] age, 29 [23-27] years) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis, with 37 participants randomized to each group (SA and NSA). A total of 47 participants (64%) were followed-up through 3 months. The results showed no statistically significant difference in depressive recovery between the groups at 3 months (14 of 24 participants in the SA group [58%] vs 10 of 23 participants in the NSA group [43%]; risk ratio [RR], 1.34; 95% CI, 0.76-2.45; P = .38). The proportions of depression recovery and remission at 4 and 6 weeks based on the PHQ-9 were higher in the SA group (except for depression recovery at 6 weeks) with no statistically significant differences. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in symptom remission at 3 months (11 of 24 participants in the SA group [46%] vs 3 of 23 participants in the NSA group [13%]; RR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.16-3.34; P = .02) in favor of SA. There were no significant differences in adverse event rates between the groups, evidencing the intervention's safety. Most participants reported mild pain at the needle application site (33 patients [94%] in the SA group vs 32 patients [91%] in the NSA group). Five participants dropped out of the study due to adverse events. Conclusions and Relevance:The results of this randomized clinical trial suggest that SA over 6 weeks is safe. Although there was no statistically significant difference between groups for the primary efficacy outcome, patients receiving SA did experience greater symptom remission at 3 months. A larger sample size and longer intervention are needed to further evaluate the efficacy of SA for depression. Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05855421.

BACKGROUND:Hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases. Hypertensive patients who intend to control blood pressure need professional medical assistance. Auricular acupressure is a patient-dependent task, wherein a person does not have to rely on a healthcare professional to self-perform the task. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of auricular acupressure on heart rate variability (HRV) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with hypertension. METHODS:A randomized controlled trial with permuted block randomization was used. In total, 150 participants from a medical teaching hospital were randomly assigned to the experimental group that received auricular acupressure for 10 weeks, and the control group that received only routine care of equal duration. Outcomes were assessed through HRV parameters, heart rate, blood pressure, and QoL before and after the auricular acupressure intervention. RESULTS:After the adjustment of disease duration and mental health, a significant difference existed between the two groups in body pain (p=.03) and mental health (p=.002) of QoL, but not in HRV parameters, heart rate, blood pressure, and overall QoL (p>.05). CONCLUSION:Acupressure can be applied at the acupoints of shenmen, sympathesis, kidney, liver, heart, and subcortex to improve physical pain and mental health of QoL for hypertensive patients. Auricular acupressure is acceptable and feasible although it does not support physiological benefits. Further studies are warranted to assure the effects of using auricular acupressure as an adjunctive care for patients with hypertension.

Myopia is a major health problem, not only because of its high prevalence in Asia but also because it contributes to visual morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ear acupressure for visual improvement on school children in Taiwan. Participants were fifth-grade school children with visual acuity between 6/37.5 and 6/9.6 in one eye. The experimental group (n = 35) received a 15-week ear acupressure intervention with seed embedding; the control group (n = 35) did not. Data for demographic factors, visual acuity, refractive error, and behavior toward visual health were collected before and after the intervention. The significant differences were observed between the two groups in visual acuity (p = 0.02), refractive error (p = 0.04), and behaviors toward visual health (p = 0.045). Performing ear acupressure may facilitate improved visual health for children. However, it requires more extended studies exploring its effects on elementary students in different grades. Longitudinal effects of this intervention also require further study.

OBJECTIVE:Acupuncture, both auricular and somatic, is a widely adopted and well-tolerated treatment for preoperative anxiety. The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of acupuncture with pharmacological treatment in reducing preoperative anxiety in patients undergoing cholecystectomy or TEP. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We randomized 120 patients in a control group PT (where patients underwent pharmacological treatment with Midazolam) and in an acupuncture group (here patients received somatic acupuncture SA and auricular acupuncture AA). Anxiety reduction was measured by intraoperative consumption of Propofol and Fentanyl and preoperatively by the Italian Version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire (STAI). RESULTS:Propofol consumption in the somatic (SA) and auricular (AA) acupuncture groups was found to be lower compared to patients that did not receive any treatment. SA and AA patients required less Propofol than the PT group (p=0.0019 and p=0.0016 respectively) and patients that underwent SA treatment used less Fentanyl than the PT group (p=0.002). No difference was measured when comparing SA to AA (p=0.15) and AA to PT (p=0.16). CONCLUSIONS:Acupuncture is a safe and well-tolerated procedure that reduces preoperative anxiety. Both somatic and auricular acupuncture are more effective than pharmacological treatment in the intraoperative period. AA is easier to implement than SA.