# Effectiveness of auriculotherapy and laser acupuncture in hyperemesis gravidarum: a randomized clinical trial

## TL;DR

A study found that auriculotherapy and laser acupuncture both effectively reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant women and improve their quality of life.

## Contribution

This is the first randomized clinical trial comparing auriculotherapy and laser auriculotherapy for hyperemesis gravidarum.

## Key findings

- Auriculotherapy and laser auriculotherapy significantly reduced Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis scores compared to placebo.
- Both interventions improved quality of life and reduced the need for antiemetic medications.
- Laser auriculotherapy is a painless and potentially more accepted treatment option for pregnant women.

## Abstract

to evaluate the effectiveness of auriculotherapy and laser auriculotherapy on nausea, vomiting, and quality of life in pregnant women.

a randomized, parallel, factorial, double-blind study was conducted with 100 pregnant women, allocated into four groups (25 in each): intervention (G1- auriculotherapy and G2- laser auriculotherapy), control (G3), and placebo with cotton (G4), all followed for seven days for outcome analysis. The Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis Score and the Degree of Auricular Palpation were used to analyze nausea and vomiting, and the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy was used to assess quality of life.

compared to the placebo group, participants in G1 and G2 reduced (p<0.050) their Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis scores by -1.14 (95% CI: -2.11; -0.17) and -1.3 (95% CI: -2.24; -0.41) and the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy by -34.81 (95% CI: -62.98; -0.95) and -31.97 (95% CI: -62.98; -0.95), respectively. The use of antiemetics was higher in the control and placebo groups.

both types of intervention demonstrated a significant reduction in nausea/vomiting and the use of allopathic medications, an improvement in quality of life, and potential acceptance of laser auriculotherapy by pregnant women. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-4wtq84v.

(1) The use of laser auriculotherapy is as effective as auriculotherapy for NVP. (2) Laser acupuncture and auriculotherapy reduce the use of allopathic medications for NVP. (3) Laser auriculotherapy is a painless option for treating NVP.

avaliar a eficácia da auriculoterapia e laserpuntura auricular em náuseas, vômitos e qualidade de vida de gestantes.

estudo randômico, paralelo, fatorial, duplo-cego, com 100 gestantes alocadas em quatro grupos (25 em cada): intervenção (G1- auriculoterapia e G2- laserpuntura auricular), controle (G3) e placebo com algodão (G4), todas acompanhadas por sete dias para análise do desfecho. Utilizaram-se o Escore de Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis e o Grau de Palpação auricular para análise das náuseas e vômitos, e o Health-RelatedQuality of Life Questionnaire for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy para qualidade de vida.

comparado ao grupo placebo, as participantes dos G1 e G2 reduziram (p<0,050) as pontuações do Escore Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis em -1,14 (IC95%: -2,11; -0,17) e -1,3 (IC95%: -2,24; -0,41) e do Health-RelatedQuality of Life Questionnaire for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy em -34,81 (IC95%: -62,98; -0,95) e -31,97 (IC95%: -62,98; -0,95), respectivamente. O uso de antieméticos foi maior nos grupos controle e placebo.

os dois tipos de intervenção demonstraram redução significativa de náuseas/vômitos e de uso de medicações alopáticas, melhora da qualidade de vida e potencial de aceitação da laserpuntura auricular pelas gestantes. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos RBR-4wtq84v.

(1) O uso da laserpuntura auricular é tão eficaz quanto a auriculoterapia para NVG. (2) A laserpuntura e auriculoterapia diminuem o uso de medicamentos alopáticos para NVG. (3) A laserpuntura auricular é uma opção indolor no tratamento de NVG.

evaluar la eficacia de la auriculoterapia y de la laserpuntura auricular en las náuseas, vómitos y calidad de vida de mujeres embarazadas.

estudio aleatorizado, paralelo, factorial y doble ciego, con 100 mujeres embarazadas asignadas a cuatro grupos (25 en cada uno): intervención (G1 – auriculoterapia y G2 – laserpuntura auricular), control (G3) y placebo con algodón (G4). Todas fueron seguidas durante siete días para el análisis del desenlace. Se utilizaron el Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) y el Grado de Palpación Auricular para analizar las náuseas y vómitos, y el Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy para evaluar la calidad de vida.

en comparación con el grupo placebo, las participantes de G1 y G2 redujeron (p < 0,050) las puntuaciones del PUQE en -1,14 (IC95%: -2,11; -0,17) y -1,3 (IC95%: -2,24; -0,41), y las del Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy en -34,81 (IC95%: -62,98; -0,95) y -31,97 (IC95%: -62,98; -0,95), respectivamente. El uso de antieméticos fue mayor en los grupos control y placebo.

ambos tipos de intervención demostraron una reducción significativa de las náuseas y vómitos, así como del uso de medicamentos alopáticos, con mejora de la calidad de vida y potencial aceptación de la laserpuntura auricular por parte de las mujeres embarazadas. Registro Brasileño de Ensayos Clínicos: RBR-4wtq84v.

(1) El uso de la laserpuntura auricular es tan eficaz como la auriculoterapia para NVE. (2) La laserpuntura auricular y la auriculoterapia reducen el uso de medicamentos alopáticos para NVE. (3) La laserpuntura auricular es una opción indolora en el tratamiento de NVE.