Finding a Balance: Auricular Acupressure in the Allergy Clinic

Auricular point acupressure (APA) is a simple technique related to acupuncture, which dates back to the 1950s, with acupuncture tools dating back thousands of years. The APA approach involves the short-term placement of beads or seeds to specific points on the external ear. In more recent times, auricular acupressure and acupuncture have been used in a wide array of settings for a myriad of conditions, including in combat and emergency settings, and even adopted by the US military health care system and Veterans Administration as an integrated approach to opioid reduction strategies. For patients with dysautonomia, APA can offer a holistic approach to help improve sleep, anxiety, depression, headache, and pain. Although evidence supporting the use of APA in food allergy and asthma is of very low certainty, several systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest possible benefit in rhinitis. Adverse effects are uncommon but may include auricular trauma, migration of APA seeds into the ear canal, contact dermatitis, or allergic reactions. With simple approaches that can be learned and applied rapidly by clinicians and patients alike, APA may represent a useful approach for some patients.