REFLEXOLOGY RESEARCH - EAR REFLEXOLOGY
2024
MENOPAUSE, STRESS, SLEEP, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE, WOMEN
The Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Menopausal Symptoms, Stress, and Sleep in Postmenopausal Middle-Aged Women: A Randomized Single-Blind Sham-Controlled Trial. By Bomi Kim, Hyojung Park. Pub. by J Midwifery Womens Health. 2024 Jan-Feb;69(1):41-51. PMID: 37549976 DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13554
This study demonstrated that auricular acupressure is effective in improving menopause symptoms, stress, and sleep in postmenopausal middle-aged women. Therefore, auricular acupressure may be a useful nonpharmacologic intervention for alleviating these symptoms in this population.
2023
BLOOD PRESSURE, STRESS, SLEEP, HYPERTENSION, SENIORS, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
The effects of auricular acupressure on blood pressure, stress, and sleep in elders with essential hypertension: a randomized single-blind sham-controlled trial. By Bomi Kim, Hyojung Park. Pub. by Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2023 Sep 5;22(6):610-619. PMID: 36594992 DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvad005
The findings showed that auricular acupressure leads to improvements in blood pressure, stress, and sleep in elderly people with essential hypertension. Therefore, auricular acupressure can be used as an alternative nursing intervention for hypertension prevention, stress, and sleep management.
JUVENILE PSEUDOMYOPIA, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
Effect of auricular acupressure combined with acupuncture for juvenile pseudomyopia. By Yan-Ni Zhu, Yuan-Yuan Chen, Ting Zou, Ping Cao. Pub. by Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Sep 15;102(37):e35018. PMID: 37713874 PMCID: PMC10508539 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035018.
The findings of this study showed that both auricular acupressure plus acupuncture and auricular acupressure alone benefit children with juvenile pseudomyopia..
PAIN, SLEEP, OSTEOARTHRITIS, SENIORS, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
Effects of auricular acupressure on sleep and pain in elderly people who have osteoarthritis and live in nursing homes: A randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial. By Won Jin Lee, Hyojung Park. Pub. by Explore (NY) . 2023 Mar-Apr;19(2):214-222. PMID: 35835645 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2022.07.001
Auricular Acupressure can be used as an effective intervention to improve the sleep of the elderly living in nursing homes, and it can also reduce the pain.
CONSTIPATION, SENIORS, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
Effectiveness of auricular acupressure on constipation and related quality of life among the older people in the residential care home: a randomized clinical trial. By Mahdi Aminizadeh, Batool Tirgari, Omsalimeh Roudi Rashtabadi, Yunes Jahani, Haleh Tajadini. Pub. by BMC Geriatr. 2023 Mar 27;23(1):171. PMID: 36973676 PMCID: PMC10042113 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-03881-7.
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.
PAIN, AURICULAR POINT PRESSURE
Biological Correlates of the Effects of Auricular Point Acupressure on Pain. By Chao Hsing Yeh, Nada Lukkahatai, Xinran Huang, Hulin Wu, Hongyu Wang, Jingyu Zhang, Xinyi Sun, Thomas J Smith. Pub. by Pain Manag Nurs. 2023 Feb;24(1):19-26. PMID: 36543665 PMCID: PMC9928890 (available on 2024-02-01) DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2022.11.004
The current findings further support the potential role of inflammatory biomarkers in the analgesic effects of auricular point acupressure. More work is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of auricular point acupressure on chronic pain. Because it is simple, inexpensive, and has no negative side effects, auricular point acupressure can be widely disseminated as an alternative to opioids.
PAIN, LABOR, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
The effectiveness of auricular acupressure on pain management during labor: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. By Meng-Meng Xu, Qi Tian, Lin Yu, Shu Yang, Yan-Tong Liu, Shuang-Han Yu, Ming-Lu Cao, Wei Zhang. Pub. by Jpn J Nurs Sci. . 2023 Jan;20(1):e12512. PMID: 36134507 DOI: 10.1111/jjns.12512
Effective labor pain relief, better labor pain perception, and the lack of adverse effects support the use of auricular acupressure. More high-quality and rigorous trials are needed to verify our findings before we can make strong recommendations.
DRY EYE DISEASE, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
Auricular Acupressure for Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. By Qiong Huang, Mengqi Zhan, Zhe Hu. Pub. by Medicina (Kaunas) . 2023 Jan 16;59(1):177. PMID: 36676806 PMCID: PMC9865136 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59010177
Auricular acupressure, as a sole intervention or in combination with artificial tears, may have a beneficial effect on dry eye disease. However, more high-quality RCTs need to be included in the future to further prove the positive effects of auricular acupressure on patients with dry eye disease.
DYSMENORRHEA (MENSTRUAL PAIN), AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
Effects of auricular acupressure (AA) on dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. By Xianglu Kong, Hong Fang, Xiaoqian Li, Yanjuan Zhang, Yi Guo. Pub. by Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jan 5:13:1016222 PMID: 36686444 PMCID: PMC9851274 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1016222
Overall, AA, as a potential safety therapy, is effective for the management of dysmenorrhea, such as increasing cured rate, total effective rate, VAS, and symptom scores. However, AA alone has little effect on them compared to other therapies, and there is no definite conclusion on the benefits of AA compared to placebo for patients with dysmenorrhea. Rigorous RCTs with blind method and placebo control are warranted to confirm these findings.
2022
KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
Auricular acupressure for treating early stage of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, sham-controlled prospective study. By X Zhang, B He , H Wang, X Sun. Pub. by QJM. 2022 Aug 13;115(8):525-529. PMID: 34463759 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcab230
Auricular acupressure plays a role in analgesic effect and can effectively decrease NSAIDs requirements without causing adverse events for the treatment of human knee osteoarthritis.
SLEEP, PRURITIS, WEIGHT GAIN, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE, HAEMODIALYSIS
Efficacy of auricular acupressure in maintenance haemodialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. By Ting Yang, Shurui Wang, Xiaohong Zhang, Lirong Liu, Yanhui Liu, Chunmei Zhang. Pub. by J Clin Nurs. 2022 Mar;31(5-6):508-519.. PMID: 34268817 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15966.
The meta-analysis results indicated that auricular acupressure had a positive efficacy in maintenance haemodialysis patients to improve sleep disorders, pruritus and daily net weight gain (%). But the results should be treated conservatively on account of the low quality of included studies. Future researchers need to conduct more high-quality, large sample, multi-centre randomised controlled studies to provide a solid basis to demonstrate of the efficacy of auricular acupressure in maintenance haemodialysis patients.
2021
SLEEP, SENIORS, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
The effects of auricular acupressure on the sleep of the elderly using polysomnography, actigraphy and blood test: Randomized, single-blind, sham control. By Juyon Min, Bomi Kim, Hyojung Park. Pub. by Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021 Nov:45:101464. PMID: 34352596 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2021.101464
Auricular acupressure applied for eight weeks was found to be effective in increasing Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 duration and Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 ratio among sleep stages of the elderly. Consequently, it showed that auricular acupressure can be used as a proven nursing intervention method for sleep disorder in elders to increase deep sleep duration and ratio.
PAIN, AURICULAR POINT ACUPRESSURE
Effects of Auricular Point Acupressure on Pain Relief: A Systematic Review. By Miaomiao Liu, Yingge Tong, Ling Chai, Siqing Chen, Zihao Xue, Yi Chen, Xiaoyan Li. Pain Manag Nurs. 2021 Jun; 22(3):268-280. PMID: 32950391 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2020.07.007.
This systematic review revealed important trends in Auricular Point Acupressure treatments, which could be essential in determining treatment efficacy.
2020
POST OPERATIVE PAIN, FRACTURE, EAR REFLEXOLOGY
Effect of auricular point pressing therapy on postoperative pain of fracture: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. By Zhe Yin, Wenjun Zhang, Yi Zeng, Xi Su. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Dec 18; 99(51):e23696. PMID: 33371113 PMCID: PMC7748313 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023696
This systematic review explored whether auricular point pressing therapy is effective on the intervention of postoperative pain after fracture.
EAR REFLEXOLOGY, NEONATAL ABSTINENCE
Comparing the effects of auricular seed acupressure and foot reflexology on neonatal abstinence syndrome: A modified double blind clinical trial. By Shimaalsadat Sajadi, Majid Kazemi, Babak Bakhtar, Hamid Ostadebrahimi. Pub. by Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 36, 2019, Pages 72-76. ISSN 1744-3881, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.06.002.
Both foot reflexology and auricular seed acupressure has significant effects on abstinence symptoms. Of course, 15-min seed acupressure is less effective than 15-min foot reflexology, while 24-h seed acupressure is as effective as 15-min foot reflexology in alleviating abstinence symptoms.
2015
CHRONIC LOWER BACK PAIN, AURICULAR POINT ACUPRESSURE
Day-to-Day Changes of Auricular Point Acupressure to Manage Chronic Low Back Pain: A 29-day Randomized Controlled Study. By Chao Hsing Yeh, Lorna Kwai-Ping Suen, Lung-Chang Chien, Leah Margolis, Zhan Liang, Ronald M Glick, Natalia E Morone. Pain Med. 2015 Oct; 16(10):1857-69. PMID: 25988270 DOI: 10.1111/pme.12789.
This study shows that Auricular Point Acupressure is a promising pain management strategy that is not invasive and can be self-managed by participants for chronic lower back pain. Given the day-to-day fluctuation in ratings, the tighter ecologic assessment of pain scores and other treatment parameters are an important pragmatic aspect of the design of chronic pain studies.
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, PAIN, EAR ACUPRESSURE, DEMENTIA, SENIORS
The effects of ear acupressure, massage therapy and no therapy on symptoms of dementia: a randomized controlled trial. By Juan Rodríguez-Mansilla, María Victoria González López-Arza, Enrique Varela-Donoso, Jesús Montanero-Fernández, Blanca González Sánchez, Elisa María Garrido-Ardila. Clin Rehabil. 2015 Jul; 29(7):683-93. PMID: 25322869 DOI: 10.1177/0269215514554240.
Ear acupressure and massage therapy showed better results than the control group in relation to pain, anxiety and depression. However, ear acupressure achieved more improvements.
HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS, PAIN, QUALITY OF LIFE, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE
A randomized controlled trial of auricular acupressure in heart rate variability and quality of life for hypertension. By Mei-Ling Yeh, Yu-Chun Chang, Yi-Ying Huang, Tso-Ying Lee. Pub. by Complement Ther Med. 2015 Apr;23(2):200-9. PMID: 25847557 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.01.005
Auricular 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.
2007
ANXIETY, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE, SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY, SENIORS
Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the elderly. By Bruno Mora, Michele Iannuzzi, Thomas Lang, Barbara Steinlechner, Renate Barker, Michael Dobrovits, Christian Wimmer, Alexander Kober. J Urol. 2007 Jul; 178(1):160-4; discussion 164. PMID: 17499304 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2007.03.019
Elderly patients who received auricular acupressure at specific relaxation points while being transported to the hospital were less anxious, anticipated less pain and were more optimistic about the outcome of treatment that they will receive than the sham treated group. These data prove that this is an effective treatment for anxiety, that improves the patient overall perception of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. (Kidney stone breaking).
BODY MASS INDEX, WEIGHT REDUCTION, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE, YOUNG ADULTS
Auricular Acupressure for Weight Reduction in Obese Asian Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. By Ching Hsiu Hsieh. Medical Acupuncture, Volume 19, Number 4, 2007.
Conclusion: Auricular acupressure using Japanese Magnetic Pearls could be used to decrease body mass index (BMI) in young adults.
2006
PAIN, ANXIETY, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE, HIP FRACTURE, SENIORS
Out-of-hospital auricular acupressure in elder patients with hip fracture: a randomized double-blinded trial. By Renate Barker, Alexander Kober, Klaus Hoerauf, Daniela Latzke, Sharam Adel, Zeev N Kain, Shu-Ming Wang. Acad Emerg Med. 2006 Jan; 13(1):19-23. PMID: 16365322 DOI: 10.1197/j.aem.2005.07.014.
Patients in the true intervention groups had less pain and anxiety, and lower heart rate on arrival at the hospital than did patients in the sham control group. As a result, the patients in the true intervention group reported higher satisfaction in the care they received during the ride to the hospital. Conclusions: The authors encourage physicians, health care providers, and emergency rescuers to learn this easy, non-invasive, and inexpensive technique for its effects in decreasing anxiety and pain during emergency transportation.
2003
ANXIETY, STRESS, AURICULAR ACUPRESSURE,
Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety in prehospital transport settings. By Alexander Kober, Thomas Scheck, Barbara Schubert, Helmut Strasser, Burkhard Gustorff, Petra Bertalanffy, Shu-Ming Wang, Zeev N Kain, Klaus Hoerauf. Anesthesiology. 2003 Jun; 98(6):1328-32. PMID: 12766639 DOI: 10.1097/00000542-200306000-00005.
It was concluded that auricular acupressure is an effective treatment for anxiety in prehospital emergency settings.