• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.36-50
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of high intensity, high frequency microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation(MENS) of auricular and somatic acupuncture points and low intensity, low frequency microcurrent electrical neuromuscular stimulation(MENS) of auricular and somatic acupuncture points on experimental pressure threshold at the elbow according to the time. Fifty healthy adults, aged 19 to 26 years, were assigned randomly to one of five groups: 1) the high intensity, high frequency somatic group(n=10) received MENS to somatic acupuncture points, 2) the high intensity, high frequency auricular group(n=10) received MENS to auricular acupuncture points, 3) the low intensity, low frequency somatic group(n=10) received MENS to somatic acupuncture points, 4) the low intensity, low frequency somatic group(n=10) receive MENS to somatic acupuncture points, and 5) the placebo group(n=10) received placebo treatment and served as controls. Pressure threshold was measured before, after, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes. Pressure threshold has increased significantly(p<.05) in the high intensity, high frequency auricular group following treatment after 5 minutes, with no statistically significant differences in pressure threshold change scores among five groups, Only the high intensity, high frequency auricular group demonstrated statistically significant change score in pressure threshold following treatment after, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 15 minutes after compared to the placebo group. The results indicated that MENS applied to the high intensity, high frequency auricular group increases pressure threshold.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.148-155
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify health problems in clinical nurses through an examination of their auricular acupuncture points. Methods: Data were collected from 90 nurses working in D city. Participants' ears were photographed and their auricular points were analyzed. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics and the $x^2$ test. Results: Musculoskeletal problems were the most severe, followed by problems of the digestive, nervous, and reproductive systems, in that order. Furthermore, the average number of health problems was 5.22, with a range of 4 to 6. Leg/foot pain was the highest reported musculoskeletal problem, followed by shoulder and lumbar/back pain. Gastric ptosis was the highest reported digestive problem, followed by indigestion and hypersensitive colitis. Additionally, among participants with gastric ptosis, lumbar pain was significantly high. Conclusion: The results suggest that further research using an auricular points as a diagnosis and treatment point is necessary to improve the health of nurses.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.103-113
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to review the auricular acupuncture treatment of insomnia in current traditional medicine. Methods : We reviewed the 18 studies about auricular acupuncture of insomnia which were published from 2005 through 2009. We selected those studies from PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, KMbase, Korean studies Information Service System, and Korean traditional knowledge portal. Results : Selected 18 studies were divided into 8 case reports and 10 control studies. Auricular acupuncture points frequently used were Sinmun(神門), Heart(心) and acupuncture points frequently used were Baekhoe(百會, GV20), Sinmun(神門, HT7). According to specific parts of symptom, some points were added. Most of studies reported that Auricular acupuncture treatment of insomnia were very effective. Conclusions : There have been many auricular acupuncture treatment of insomnia in traditional medicine, and we believe that these studies could be applied to the clinical practices in Korea.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 1997

The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the changes between pre-treatment and post-treatment of four groups of 15 persons each and 2) to compare the effect of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) and laser at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the wrist. Sixty healthy adult men and women(M:32, F:28), aged 20 to 28 years, were assigned randomly to one of four groups. Group 1 received TENS to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 2 received laser to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 3 received placebo TENS to the appropriate auricular point for wrist pain, Group 4 received no treatment and served as controls. Experimental pain threshold at the wrist was determined with a painful electrical stimulus before and 20 minutes after ear stimulation. Group 1 was the only group that showed a stastically significant increase (p<0.05) in pain threshold after treatment whereas the Group 2,3 and 4 did not. These results suggest that TENS has the capability to higher pain threshold but laser does not.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.39-49
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• 2004

The purpose of this study were to examine the effect of high intensity, low frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation at auricular acupuncture points on experimental pain threshold measured at the wrist and to determine the changes in effect over time. Forty-two healthy adult men and women were assigned randomly to one of three treatment groups. Group 1(n=15) received TENS to appropriate auricular points for wrist, Group 2(n=12) received TENS to wrist, and Group 3(n=15) received no TENS. We measured experimental pain threshold at the wrist after an electrical stimulus during one pre-treatment and three post-treatment time periods. Group 1 and 2 showed stastically significant increase(p<0.05) in pain threshold after treatment whereas the Group 3 did not. Group 1 showed a significant increase in pain threshold than Group 2. These results suggest that high intensity, low frequency TENS applied to appropriate auricular acupuncture points can increase pain threshold.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.12-18
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• 2003

Objectives : Hypertension is very prevalent disease, and causes serious cardiovascular complications. Nowadays optimal hypertension treatment is emphasized to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular complications. Auricular acupuncture therapy is economical, safe and effective. Its clinical application is various, and it can be used to control blood pressure. So The effect of auricular acupuncture therapy was investigated. Daily variation of blood pressure during needle-embedded period and variation of blood pressure by blood pressure classification were observed. Methods : The auricular acupuncture points we used were Gangapjeom (降壓點), Sinmun (神門), Gyogam (交感), Sim(心), and Icheom (耳尖). Auricular acupuncture needles were embedded for three days. Blood pressure was checked four times per day and the mean obtained. Results : The following results were obtained : 1. During needle-embedded period, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased. Blood pressure decreased most significantly 2 days after treatment. 2. The change of blood pressure in the higher blood pressure group was more remarkable than that of the lower blood pressure group. Conclusions : Through this research, auricular acupuncture therapy is considered as an effective and safe method to lower blood pressure.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on headaches and its impact on daily activities in nurses. Methods: The design of this study was a randomized controlled trial. Data were collected from April 1 to April 14, 2022. Nurses suffering from headaches were recruited from a hospital in a city. Twenty nurses were assigned to the experimental group and 20 nurses to the control group. The experimental group received auricular acupressure for 2 weeks, and the control group was put on the waiting list. Results: Auricular acupressure reduced headache over 2 weeks compared to the control group. Auricular acupressure reduced the effect of headache on daily activities compared to control group. Headache effect on daily activities in the control group did not change. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is suggested to repeat the study using various combinations of acupressure points other than the acupressure points used in this study or to use participants other than nurses.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.93-97
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• 2000

Backgrounds and Purpose: Hypertension is a common origin for stroke, heart disease, etc. Clinical management is needed to prevent these diseases. It has been said that auricular acupuncture treatment can be used for the control of hypertension. In this study, we studied the effects of auricular acupuncture on mild hypertension. Materials and Methods: Clinical study was performed on 22 stroke patients who didn't take the antihypertensive drugs. They were admitted in Kyunghee University, Hospital of Oriental Medicine. We checked patients' 24-hour blood pressure by Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor and did auricular acupuncture treatment for one day and rechecked blood pressure for 24-hours. We compared the blood pressure between, before, and after auricular acupuncture treatment by Wilcoxon test. The acupuncture points were KOHYOLABJUM, NAEBUNBI, SHINMUN, SHIM, KANGABJUM. They were all on the auricular. Results: After auricular acupuncture treatment, systolic and diastolic hypertension decreased significantly(p<0.05), but heart rates didn't change significantly. Conclusions: These results suggest that Auricular acupuncture treatment may be used for antihypertensive purpose. About the efficacy and safety, further study is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2 s.32
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• pp.331-336
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• 1996

We have studied the effect of auricular acupuncture on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). 100 female patients undergoing transabdominal hysterectomy were entered into the study. The patients were divided into two groups (auricular acupuncture treatment group and non-treatment group) to test the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture. acupuncture consisted of needle insertion in one ear at four points: sympathetic, stomach, shinmoon and occiput. Before the operation, the above points were punctured perpendicularly by the thumbtack-type needle, leaving its handle lying flat on the skin surface. There was no significant difference in age, weight, height and duration of anesthesia among the two groups of patients. There was a cignificant difference between the control group and auricular acupuncture treatment group in the incidence of vomiting at the first 12 h after surgery 68% and 30%, respectively, p<0.01) No noteworthy side effects fbom treatment were observed. auricular acupuncture is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting after transabdominal hysterectomy in female patients.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to determine effects of auricular acupressure on knee pain, range of motion, and sleep in the elderly with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This is an experimental study designed with randomization and single-blind in a placebo-control approach. The subjects included the elderly with knee osteoarthritis who were using an elderly welfare facility. In each of the groups, 28 subjects were assigned. For the experimental group, auricular acupressure was applied to five pressure points related to the pain caused by osteoarthritis and sleep. In the case of the placebo-control group, auricular acupressure was applied to other five points than the former. The intervention lasted eight weeks. In order to examine intervention effects of auricular acupressure, joint pain, Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPTs), and extension and flexion range of motion (ROM) were measured weekly. As for the preand post-examinations, pain, sleep quality, and the time-by-sleep stage of the patients with knee osteoarthritis were measured. Results: The VAS scores in the experimental group with auricular acupressure significantly decreased through time (p<.001) and WOMAC also significantly decreased (p<.01) compared with the placebo-control group. However, there were no significant differences in PPTs. The flexion (p<.01) and extension (p<.001) ROMs measured for eight weeks improved over time. Meanwhile, sleep quality improved significantly after the intervention termination (p<.01), but there was no significant difference found in the time-by-sleep stage. Conclusion: Auricular acupressure applied for eight weeks was found to be effective in reducing joint pain, improving knee ROM, and improving sleep quality in patients with degenerative knee arthritis.