The effects of auricular acupressure on the sleep of the elderly using polysomnography, actigraphy and blood test: Randomized, single-blind, sham control

AIM

This study was conducted to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on sleep in elderly people with sleep disorders.

METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. The participants aged over 65 years old were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 21) and the sham control group (n = 21). The participants in the experimental group and the sham control group received auricular acupressure on sleep-disorder-related points or to sleep-disorder-unrelated points, respectively. The intervention was implemented for a total of eight weeks. To validate the effects of the treatment, polysomnography with the Alice portable sleep diagnostic system; actigraphy with Fitbit Alta; and melatonin, serotonin, and cortisol blood tests were conducted.

RESULTS

Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 duration change (Z = -2.187, p = .029) and Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 ratio change (Z = -2.423, p = .014), measured by polysomnography, of the experimental group showed a significant increase over time compared to the sham control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Auricular acupressure applied for eight weeks was found to be effective in increasing Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 duration and Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep stage 3 ratio among sleep stages of the elderly. Consequently, it showed that auricular acupressure can be used as a proven nursing intervention method for sleep disorder in elders to increase deep sleep duration and ratio.

The effect of ear acupressure (auriculotherapy) on sexual function of lactating women: protocol of a randomized sham controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Lactation has a negative effect on female sexual function. Hormonal changes during lactation cause changes which might lead to dyspareunia, lack of libido, and anorgasmia. There are various pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to treat sexual dysfunction. While pharmacological treatment has multiple unwanted side effects, non-pharmacological therapies such as complementary medicine are a potential safer alternative. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of ear acupressure on sexual function of lactating women.

METHODS/DESIGN

This is a randomized clinical trial with a parallel sham control group. In this study, 76 lactating women between 6 months and 1 year after childbirth were referred to health care centers in Qazvin City and would be invited to participate. Participants will be divided into intervention (n = 38) and control (n = 38) groups using simple block randomization. Both intervention and sham control groups will be visited over 10 sessions within a 4-day interval. At each visit, the adhesives containing Vaccaria seed will be adhered for the intervention group, while non-latex-based adhesives with no Vaccaria seeds will be placed on the same ear acupoints for the sham control group. Selected ear acupoints include genitalia (two ear points), pelvic point, master shoulder, and posterior pituitary gland. The women will be asked to hold the seeds on their ears for 3 days and press each ear point three times a day for 20 s. After 3 days, they will be asked to remove the seeds from their ears and rest for 1 day. Sexual function as primary outcome in both groups will be assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index before and immediately after 1 and 2 months after the intervention. Also, Sexual Quality of Life as secondary outcome will be assessed using Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F) before and 2 months after intervention. Data will be analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA at the significant level of 0.05.

DISCUSSION

This study is expected to support the impact of ear channel ear acupressure on sexual function in lactating women.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Clinical Trial Registration Center IRCT20190626044028N1 . Registered on 16 August 2019.

Effects of Auricular Acupressure on Women With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of auricular acupressure on bowel symptoms, stress, mental health, and heart rate variability in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A quasi-experimental study design with a nonequivalent control group assessed a total sample of 56 women diagnosed with IBS according to Rome III criteria. There were 29 women in the experimental group who received auricular acupressure; 27 women were in the control group. Semen sinapis albae seeds were used to administer acupressure to four auricular points: endocrine, large intestine, lung, and Shenmen for 5 days/week for 4 weeks; the control group received no treatment. Bowel symptoms, stress, mental health, and heart rate variability were measured twice, once before and once after the intervention. Chi-square tests, t tests, and paired t tests were used for analysis. The experimental group had decreased loose stools, abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, stress, and heart rate variability compared with the control group (p < .05). Auricular acupressure was effective for symptom improvement in patients with IBS.