Ear Acupuncture for Acute Sore Throat: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Integrative Medicine
• Acupuncture Research

Background:

• Sore throat is a frequent reason for outpatient visits, causing significant pain.
• Battlefield auricular acupuncture is a recognized method for managing acute pain.
• This study investigated auricular acupuncture as an adjunct to standard care for acute sore throat.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of battlefield auricular acupuncture in alleviating pain associated with acute sore throat.
• To determine if auricular acupuncture reduces the need for pain medication.
• To evaluate the impact of auricular acupuncture on work absenteeism in patients with sore throat.

Main Methods:

• An unblinded, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial was performed.
• Adult, nonpregnant patients with acute sore throat pain were recruited from an Air Force family medicine clinic.
• A total of 54 patients were monitored for 48 hours post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Patients receiving auricular acupuncture reported significantly lower pain scores at 15 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours compared to the control group.
• A marked decrease in cumulative pain medication doses was observed in the auricular acupuncture group at 6, 24, and 48 hours.
• No statistically significant difference was found in the number of work hours missed between the two treatment groups.

Conclusions:

• Battlefield auricular acupuncture, when added to standard therapy, effectively reduces acute sore throat pain for up to 24 hours.
• This acupuncture modality also leads to decreased pain medication consumption for up to 48 hours.
• Auricular acupuncture did not demonstrate a significant effect on reducing the duration of work missed due to sore throat.