Report from the 9th International Symposium on Auriculotherapy Held in Singapore, 10–12 August 2017 †

To explore domestic auricular point therapy for insomnia in recent 10 years. The keywords retrieving clinical research papers include auricular point, insomnia, auricular point pressing therapy, auricular acupuncture therapy, auricular bloodletting method, needle-embedding method, auricular therapeutic apparatus. The databases are CNKI, WANGFANG, and VIP. Eighty-nine target theses were collected and analyzed. It is found that the popular methods are ear point pressing therapy with the seed of cowherb. The main ear points show Xin(CO15), Shenmen(TF4), Pizhixia(AT4), and other auricular points as well as body acupoints were combined based on syndrome differentiation. As for patients with pathogenic fire derived from stagnation of liver-qi, Gan(CO12), Yidan(CO11), and Erjian(HX6,7i), etc. were selected to shallow puncture [1], combined with Sishencong(EX-HN 1), Shenmen(HT 7), Sanyinjiao(SP 6), Shenshu(BL 23), and Taixi(KI 3). Also, the Chinese granules of Jieyushugan’anshen can be added [2]. Pi(CO13), Wei(CO4), Gan(CO12), Zhen(AT3), Chuiqian(LO4), which is special for panasthenia, and bloodletting Erjian(HX6,7i) [3] are suitable for phlegm-heat disturbing insomnia. In addition, we reinforce Shenmen(HT 7), Neiguan(PC 6), Baihui(GV 20), Anmian(Extra), and reduce Zhongwan(CV 12), Fenglong(ST 40), Neiting(ST 44). Chinese Wendan decoction is for the syndrome [4]. As to the syndrome of imbalance between heart-yang and kidney-yin, the acupoints are Naogan(AT3,4i), Shen(CO10), Jiaogan(AH6a), Chuiqian(LO4), and Anmian(Extra), with oral Chinese drugs preparation of Anshen liquid [5]. We treat patients with fire excess from yin deficiency with Jiaogan(AH6a), Shen(CO10), Gan(CO12), and Medicines 2017, 4, 46 33 of 39 electroacupuncture Baihui(GV 20), Shenting(GV 24) and bilateral Anmian(Extra), Shenmen(HT 7), Neiguan(PC 6), Taixi(KI 3) and Yongquan(KI 1), or ear point pressing method combined with Chinese Zishenqingxin decoction [6]. Sleeplessness caused by insufficiency of heart and spleen is treated with Jiaogan(AH6a), Pi(CO13), electroacupuncture Baihui(GV 20), Shenting(GV 24) and bilateral Anmian(Extra), Shenmen(HT 7), Neiguan(PC 6), Sanyinjiao(SP 6), Zusanli(ST 36), Xinshu(BL 15), and Pishu(BL 20), Gan(CO12), Shen(CO10). Thumb-tack needle for subcutaneous embedding [7] is used at Xin(CO15), Shenmen(TF4), Pizhixia(AT4), Naogan(AT3,4i), Pi(CO13), Wei(CO4), and Chuiqian(LO4), plus Chinese Guipi decoction [8]. Regarding qi deficiency of heart and gallbladder insomnia, the acupoints are Yidan(CO11), Gan(CO12), and electroacupuncture Baihui(GV 20), Shenting(GV 24) and bilateral Anmian(Extra), Shenmen(HT 7), Neiguan(PC 6), Danshu(BL 19), Qiuxu(GB 40), plus Chinese Guipi decoction and Chaihujialonggumuli decoction [9]. Those combined with hypertension, auricular acupoints pressing method is beneficial for patients with heart-spleen deficiency and qi deficiency of heart and gallbladder [10], and the ear points refer to Neifenmi(CO18), Erbeigou(Ps), Gan(CO12), Shen(CO10), Jiaogan(AH6a), etc. Insomnia of depression [11] can be treated with Jiaogan(AH6a), Shen(CO10), Gan(CO12), Yidan(CO11), Pi(CO13), Wei(CO4), etc.; that with type 2 diabetes [12], Jiaogan(AH6a), Neifenmi(CO18), Gan(CO12), Pi(CO13), Wei(CO4), Shen(CO10), Dachang(CO7), Jidian, etc. When it comes to auricular point apparatus, we often use auricular vagus nerve stimulator (TENS-200 A) at auricular concha for primary insomnia [13]. To sum up, auricular point therapy for insomnia is common, with cowherb seed pressing for the mild symptom and the combination therapy of ear point, body acupuncture and Chinese herbs for the severe. 1. Li, C.C. Clinical Observation of Shallow Acupuncture Combined with Ear Acupoint Application for Insomnia of Pathogenic Fire Derived from Stagnation of Liver-Qi; Fujian University of TCM: Fuzhou, China, 2016. 2. Wang, J.F. Auricular acupuncture combined with Chinese granules for insomnia subhealthy. Mod. Health (Med. Innov. Res.) 2008, 5, 152–152. 3. Chen, D.S.; Lin, Y.H. Ear point bloodletting combined with acupuncture for phlegm-heat disturbing insomnia. J. Clin. Acupunct. Moxibustion 2014, 30, 21–23. 4. Zhuo, C.Q.; Zhou, W.G.; Jiang, Q.Y. Ear point plus wendan decoction for phlegm-heat disturbing insomnia. Guangming J. Chin. Med. 2016, 31, 2817–2819. 5. Liu, Y.; Yu, T.; Zhao, Y. Sixty-four cases of insomnia Chinese herb plus auricular point for insomnia caused by imbalance between heart-yang and kidney-yin. J. China Tradit. Chin. Med. Inf. 2010, 2, 291–292. 6. Niu, G.Y.; Xu, H.X. Zishenqingxin decoction combined with ear point pressing method for 30 climacteric insomnia patients with fire excess from yin deficiency. Guangming J. Chin. Med. 2015, 30, 1441–1442. 7. Chang, J.Y.; Han, S.L. Thumb-tack needle for sleeplessness caused by insufficiency of heart and spleen. Chin. J. Hosp. Pharm. 2016, 36, 79. 8. Su, Z.G.; Li, Y.P. Guipi decoction plus ear acupuncture for sleeplessness caused by insufficiency of heart and spleen. Chin. J. Med. Guide 2012, 14, 78–84. 9. Zeng, Q.M.; Hu, Q.H. Twenty-five cases of qi deficiency of heart and gallbladder insomnia treated with Chinese Guipi decoction and Chaihujialonggumuli decoction. J. Gansu Univ. Chin. Med. 2016, 33, 56–58. 10. Du, X.J.; Sun, M.K. Ear acupoint pressing for hypertension of insomnia with different types. Cardiovasc. Dis. J. Integr. Tradit. Chin. West. Med. 2016, 4, 152–153. 11. Yang, F. Ear acupoint pressing for depression of insomnia. Clin. Study 2016, 24, 86–86. 12. Tang, Y.Q.; Fei, Y.Y.; Lu, J.J. Acupoint application plus ear acupoint pressing for type 2 diabetes of insomnia. Nurs. Integr. Tradit. Chin. West. Med. 2016, 2, 63–65. Medicines 2017, 4, 46 34 of 39 13. Luo, M.; Qu, X.X.; Li, S.Y. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for primary insomnia and affective disorder: A report of 35 cases. Chin. Acupunct. Moxibustion 2017, 37, 269–273. 5.2. The Mechanism of Auricular Electroacupuncture Effect on Biliary System Dysfunction and Pain