Tracking and Evaluating the Immediate Stress-Reducing Effect of Ear Acupuncture Through Prolactin Levels and Meridian Diagnostics: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Study

摘要

Background: Although the 5-point acudetox National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol was developed to treat addictions, it has always been assumed that the healing capacities of this method go far beyond that application.Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate if the 5-point acudetox ear acupuncture protocol has an immediate stress (prolactin; PRL)-reducing effect and, if so, if the effect is more significant than social support and informal supportive conversation.Materials and Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial was conducted at the Szechenyi Health Center in Budapest, Hungary. Forty-four patients were included in the study: 22 in an experimental group and 22 in a control group. Volunteer students and workers ages 25-60 were included. Ear acupuncture was performed on 5 points: Shen Men; Sympathetic; Kidney; Liver; and Lung. Each blood sample was taken between 2 pm and 4 pm by the same person. The starting and endpoints of the 12 principal meridian pairs of the body were measured during MeriDiM? screening.