Auriculotherapy may help to reduce gastrointestinal reactions and improve quality of life post chemotherapy

To compare the effectiveness of auriculotherapy in managing nausea and vomiting caused by platinum-based chemotherapy METHODS: 96 patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing platinum chemotherapy were randomly divided into three groups, with 32 patients in each group. The control group received conventional treatment, including 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonist and routine nursing care; the remaining two groups received additional auricular point sticking or ear scraping. The outcomes measured included the incidence and frequency of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting, severity of nausea, appetite, and quality of life function index 24 h and 5 d post chemotherapy.

Statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence and frequency of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting, severity of nausea, appetite, and life function index of nausea and vomiting at 24 h and 5 d post chemotherapy (P < 0.05); the efficacy of treatment in the ear scraping and auricular point sticking groups was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the ear scraping group experienced a more effective reduction in acute nausea and vomiting than that in the auricular point sticking group (P < 0.05), and auricular point sticking showed better results in managing delayed nausea and vomiting and improving appetite and quality of life 5 d post chemotherapy (P < 0.05).

Auricular point sticking and ear scraping effectively treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Ear scraping is more effective for acute CINV, whereas auricular point sticking is more effective for delayed CINV, with the distinct advantages of enhancing appetite and quality of life for each type of CINV.