Review Article

Current Evidence on Auricular Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Table 3

Auricular therapy protocols of included trials.

StudyTypes of auricular therapySelected auricular acupoints (number)
main acupoints (M), adjunct acupoints (A)
Acupoints detectionInstructions of manual pressingDuration of treatment

Sa1Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
4: stomach, liver, spleen, shenmen Not reported3–5 times/day for 1-2 minutes/time until de qibNot reported

S2Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
6: spleen, stomach, liver, shenmen, sympathetic, sanjiao Acupoint detector5-6 times/day for 2-3 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi A complete chemotherapy cycle

S3Auricular acupressure
using magnetic pellets
M  (7): stomach, cardia, esophagus, sympathetic, shenmen, spleen, liver
A  (4): lung, pancreas, gallbladder, adrenal gland
Acupoint detectorSeveral times/day for 1-2 minutes acupoint/time until de qi Not reported

S4Auricular acupressure
using plant seeds
4: stomach, shenmen, sympathetic, adrenal glandNot reported3-4 times/day for 3 minutes/time3 days

S5Auricular acupunctureM  (3): stomach, shenmen, sympathetic
A  (2): liver, spleen
Acupoint detector4-5 times/day for 1 minute/time,
Press when feeling nausea or vomiting
1 day

S6Auricular acupressure
using plant seeds
5: shenmen, sympathetic, cardia, stomach, digestive subcortexAcupoint detectorAt least 3 times/day for at least 3 periods of 3-minute duration,
Press as soon as feeling nausea
7 days

S7Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
M  (3): stomach, sympathetic, shenmen
A  (4): liver, spleen, cardia, esophagus
Not reported5-6 times/day for 2 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi 7 days

S8Auricular acupressure
using radish seeds
5: shenmen, stomach, sympathetic, spleen, large intestineAcupoint detector4 times/day for 5 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi 7 days

S9Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
7: stomach, liver, spleen, cardia, shenmen, sympathetic, subcortexNot reported3 times (morning, noon, night)/day for 5 minutes/time until de qi 27 days for one treatment, 2 treatments in total (crossover after 1st intervention)

S10Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
4: stomach, shenmen, sympathetic, endocrineAcupoint detectorRegularly press until de qi Not reported

S11Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
M  (3): stomach, sympathetic, shenmen
A  (3): liver, spleen, large intestine
Not reported3-4 times/day for 2 minutes/time until de qi A complete chemotherapy cycle

S12Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
7: endocrine, shenmen, sympathetic, stomach, cardia, spleen, sanjiao Acupoint detector8 times (before and after three meals and chemotherapy)/day for 1 minute/acupoint/time until de qi 7 days

S13Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
M  (5): stomach, cardia, esophagus, shenmen, small intestine
A  (2): large intestine, rectum
Acupoint detector4–6 times/day for 60–150 seconds/acupoint/time until de qi A complete chemotherapy cycle

S14Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
7: lung, spleen, stomach, center of ear, large intestine, shenmen, subcortexNot reported3 times/day for 1-2 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi
Press when feeling nausea or vomiting
A complete chemotherapy cycle

S15Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
M  (4): stomach, shenmen, liver, subcortex
A  (4): spleen, lung, kidney, heart
Not reported5-6 times/day for 3–5 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi 2 days

S16Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
3: stomach, shenmen, subcortexAcupoint detector4-5 times/day for 10–15 minutes/time until de qi A complete chemotherapy cycle

S17Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
6: shenmen, stomach, sympathetic, subcortex, center of ear, spleenCotton swab3–5 times/day for 30–60 seconds/acupoint/time until de qi 7 days

S18Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
3: stomach, shenmen, subcortexAcupoint detector4-5 times/day for 10–15 minutes/time until de qi From the day prior to the current chemotherapy cycle to two days after the completion of the current cycle

S19Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
3: stomach, shenmen, sympatheticNeedle5-6 times/day for 3–5 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi A complete chemotherapy cycle

S20Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
M  (3): stomach, shenmen, sympathetic
A  (2): liver, subcortex
Needle5-6 times/day for 3–5 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi A complete chemotherapy cycle

S21Auricular acupressure
using Vaccaria seeds
M  (4): stomach, shenmen, subcortex, center of ear
A  (2): liver, occiput
Cotton swab3–5 times/day for 1-2 minutes/acupoint/time until de qi A complete chemotherapy cycle

Study, bde qi: a subjective feeling of numbness, pressure sensation, heaviness, soreness, or distension.