Recent studies on auriculoacupuncture and its mechanism

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Acupuncture Research
• Auriculotherapy

Background:

• Auriculotherapy, or ear acupuncture, has a long history of use in traditional medicine.
• This review synthesizes over eighty references on clinical applications, mechanisms, and diagnostic uses of ear acupoints.
• Existing research explores various stimulation techniques and their efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical treatment, analgesia, and diagnostic mechanisms of auriculoacupoints.
• To explore the application of auriculotherapy in diverse medical fields and conditions.
• To discuss advancements in diagnosis, therapy, and understanding the mechanisms of auriculotherapy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of more than eighty references.
• Analysis of clinical treatment, analgesia, and diagnostic applications of ear acupoints.
• Examination of various stimulation methods including needle embedding, point injection, and laser irradiation.

Main Results:

• Auriculotherapy demonstrates therapeutic effects for 56 types of diseases across respiratory, digestive, nervous systems, and more.
• It is effective for pain management, weight reduction, and smoking/drinking cessation.
• Auricular acupoints are utilized for diagnosing conditions like cancers, coronary diseases, and hepatitis, and in anesthesia for surgery and endoscopy.

Conclusions:

• Auriculotherapy has significant potential in clinical therapy and diagnosis.
• Further research is needed to understand the correlation between ear acupoint morphology/function and visceral responses.
• Standardization of nomenclature and a dual focus on prophylaxis and treatment are crucial for advancing auriculotherapy.