ear plaster therapy for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Managing Gestational Vomiting with Ear Plaster Therapy

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) are common, affecting approximately 50%-80% of pregnant women to varying degrees1. When NVP progresses to moderate or severe levels, it increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. Therefore, early intervention for NVP may be beneficial in preventing the development of hyperemesis gravidarum2. The exact cause of NVP is not well understood in modern biomedicine, but it is believed to be associated with factors such as changes in the serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin during pregnancy and deficiencies of certain vitamins3. Current treatments for NVP include fasting, fluid infusion, and correction of electrolyte imbalances, but none of these approaches are considered reliable4. Consequently, finding an effective treatment that does not impact the development of the embryo or fetus is a significant clinical challenge.
Ear plaster therapy is a traditional Chinese medicine treatment method that involves the use of small, rounded objects, typically the seeds of cowherb, to stimulate specific points on the ear for disease prevention and treatment5. The dried and mature seeds of Vaccaria hispanica, also known as cowherb, are used in this therapy as they are believed to regulate blood and channels, enhance blood circulation, and promote lactation. The auricle (outer part of the ear) is rich in nerves, containing numerous acupuncture and sensitive points6. By stimulating these points, the soft tissues of the ear may produce localized aseptic inflammation, which in turn may regulate the neuroendocrine system, including the pituitary-adrenal cortex and sympathetic-adrenal cortical glands. Additionally, this therapy can potentially invigorate the body's non-specific immune response, leading to therapeutic effects7. Ear plaster therapy effectively treats NVP by targeting specific points on the ear that primarily regulate autonomic dysfunction, reduce gastrointestinal responses, and alleviate the sensation of vomiting. It can also increase the level of Motilin, a hormone that promotes intestinal motility8, and restore the appetite of pregnant women. Moreover, some previous studies suggest that ear plaster therapy may have a favorable impact on NVP-related mood disturbances9, as it exhibits similar actions to sedatives in relieving anxiety.
Ear plaster therapy is a simple and easily administered treatment method. It can be used in conjunction with conventional treatments to alleviate the symptoms of NVP while minimizing the potential risks associated with medication use for both the mother and the fetus. This protocol provides detailed instructions on how to perform this therapy and what to consider during the process. We hope ear plaster therapy will receive increased attention and be promoted and utilized in clinical practice.

Author Spotlight: Alleviating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Safe and Effective Auricular Acupuncture 

耳膏疗法是一种安全有效的妊娠呕吐治疗方法

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ear Plaster Therapy for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy at JoVE.com

孕期恶心和呕吐的耳膏疗法

首先，用75%酒精消毒后，确保患者的耳廓区域已经干燥，然后用一只手的拇指和食指捏住耳螺旋并将其前后向上抬起来稳定耳廓。接下来，用镊子拿起准备好的耳膏，将其放在患者耳朵中选定的穴位上，使膏药中心的牛草种子接触到选定的穴位。要求患者保证种子放置与敏感或疼痛部位对齐。将拇指和食指放在耳廓的前后。通过有节奏的按压和放松运动施加适度且可耐受的压力，以刺激耳廓部位的牛草种子。在每个部位继续有节奏的按压和释放三到五分钟，保持均匀的步伐。治疗后 15 分钟监测患者的整体状况。指导患者或其家属通过每天早上、中午和晚上三次摩擦相关区域来刺激种子。三天后，取下耳膏，在对侧耳朵上重复该过程，在两只耳朵之间交替治疗。与对照组相比，接受耳膏治疗的实验组的平均住院时间明显缩短，酮体转阴所需的时间也明显缩短。这些都表明，耳膏疗法可以有效减少妊娠呕吐的治疗时间。治疗前，实验组和对照组的PUQE评分无统计学意义差异。然而，经过五天的治疗，两者的评分都显着降低。但实验组的得分明显低于对照组。

ear-plaster-therapy-for-nausea-and-vomiting-in-pregnancy

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Ear Plaster Therapy for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

95 次观看.  Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 首先，用75%酒精消毒后，确保患者的耳廓区域已经干燥，然后用一只手的拇指和食指捏住耳螺旋并将其前后向上抬起来稳定耳廓。接下来，用镊子拿起准备好的耳膏，将其放在患者耳朵中选定的穴位上，使膏药中心的牛草种子接触到选定的穴位。要求患者保证种子放置与敏感或疼痛部位对齐。将拇指和食指放在耳廓的前后。通过有节奏的按压和放松运动施加适度且可耐?...

视频: 孕期恶心和呕吐的耳膏疗法

Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common symptoms that often complicate early pregnancy for many women. While clinical treatments such as fasting, fluid infusion, and nutritional support are conventionally applied to manage NVP, their effectiveness varies. However, traditional ear plaster therapy offers a promising alternative that effectively relieves symptoms and poses no known risk to the development of embryos or fetuses. This therapy is known for its ease of application, cost-effectiveness, and favorable outcomes. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of combining ear plaster therapy with conventional treatments in alleviating symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, surpassing the results achieved with conventional treatment alone. The protocol presented herein describes a method to relieve NVP using round, smooth, and hard cowherb seeds applied to specific ear points. These seeds are gently rubbed onto the surface of the ear, utilizing the principles of acupressure. By stimulating the designated ear points, this procedure aims to regulate the body's energy flow and restore balance, thereby reducing the severity and frequency of NVP. The application of cowherb seeds on specific ear points is a straightforward technique that healthcare professionals can easily implement or self-administered by pregnant women under appropriate guidance. Overall, ear plaster therapy presents a safe, effective, and economical approach for managing gestational vomiting, offering women a potential solution to alleviate their discomfort during pregnancy.

The presented protocol describes a traditional Chinese medicine treatment procedure known for its safety and effectiveness in managing gestational vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) are common symptoms that often complicate early pregnancy for many women. While clinical treatments such as ...

科研

医学

Preparation for Ear Plaster Therapy to Treat Pregnancy Vomiting

Begin by preparing the ear plasters for ear plaster therapy. To do so, cut a medical adhesive tape into squares, each measuring 0.6 by 0.6 square centimeters. Then position one or two smooth cow herb seeds at the center of each tape square.Next, instruct the patient to assume a comfortable seated position. Examine the skin on the patient's ear to ensure that it is intact and free from any abnormalities before selecting the acupoints. To locate the potential acupoints, stabilize the ear oracle by pinching and lifting the ear helix backward and upward using the thumb and index finger of one hand, making sure the area is fully exposed.Then, using the sterile probe in the other hand, gently examine the patient's ear to identify sensitive pressure points near the six auricular points. The stomach or CO4, cardia or CO3, belly or AH8, shenmen or TF4, subcortex or AT4, and liver or CO12.

准备耳膏治疗妊娠呕吐

To begin, ensure the patient's ear auricle area has dried after disinfecting it with 75%alcohol, Then stabilize the auricle by pinching the ear helix with the thumb and index finger of one hand and lifting it backward and upward. Next, use the forceps to pick up the prepared ear plaster and place it onto the selected acupoint in the patient's ear, such that the cow herb seeds in the center of the plaster touches the selected point. Ask for the patient's assurance that the seed placement aligns with a sensitive or sore spot.Positioning the thumb and index finger in front of and behind the auricle. Apply moderate and tolerable pressure with rhythmic, pressing and relaxing motion to stimulate the cow herb seeds at the auricular site. Continue the rhythmic press and release at each site for three to five minutes, maintaining an even pace.Monitor the patient's overall condition for 15 minutes post-treatment. Instruct the patient or their family to stimulate the seeds by rubbing the concerned area three times a day, in the morning, at midday, and in the evening. After three days, remove the ear plaster and repeat the procedure on the opposite ear, alternating treatment between both ears.Compared to the control group, the experimental group, which received ear plaster therapy, had a significantly shorter average hospital stay and also required a significantly lower time for ketone bodies to turn negative. These suggested that ear plaster therapy can effectively reduce the treatment time for gestational vomiting. Prior to treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in PUQE scores between the experimental and control groups.However, after five days of treatment, both showed a significant reduction in the scores. But the score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group.