Name: Ear Plaster Therapy for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Uploaded: 2023-08-04T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Ear Plaster Therapy for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy at JoVE.com

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 

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

Our research is focused on developing effective treatments for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. We aim to explore ways to best alleviate the symptom of such patients without fighting the development of the fetus. The most recent advances in treating pregnancy vomiting includes a number of medications such as vitamin B6, doxylamine, and a certain anticholinergics.Also, some psychological supports has been shown to be important for recovery. Ear plaster therapy is simple, cost effective, safe, and highly accepted by patients in clinical practice. This therapy, in contraction with traditional symptomatic treatment, is more effective in relieving the symptoms of vomiting and nausea in pregnant women.Our study demonstrated the efficacy and the safety of our ocular acupuncture for the treatment of vomiting in pregnancy. More randomized controlled studies and clinical trials are now necessary to assess its efficacy and the risk of side effects.

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

Ear Plaster Therapy for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

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.