Observation Of The Curative Effect Of Cizhu Ear Acupoint Therapy On Insomnia Of Breast Cancer Patients With Liver Depression And Spleen Deficiency

Background:Insomnia is particularly prevalent amongst breast cancer patients,and it affects a patient’s recovery,prognosis,immunity and mental health.Sedative-hypnotic medications may provide a fast response but are associated with numerous side effects as well.Auriculotherapy,a unique non-pharmacological therapy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),is a simple and convenient procedure with minimal side effects.Hence it is worth exploring the efficacy of auriculotherapy in the treatment of insomnia in breast cancer patients.Objective:To observe the efficacy of auriculotherapy using magnetic beads in the treatment of insomnia in breast cancer patients classified as having the TCM syndrome of liver depression and spleen deficiency.Methods:This research was conducted using a prospective,randomized,controlled and exploratory trial.Eligible patients,who visited the department of hematology and oncology of Dongzhimen Hospital and Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from the period of September 2018 to January 2019,were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups in a ratio of 1:1.The control group was given conventional TCM treatment of herbal concoction only and the herbs prescribed should be based on the treatment principle of soothing the liver,strengthening the spleen and tranquillizing the mind.The treatment group was given conventional TCM treatment and auriculotherapy using magnetic beads.The seven chosen auricular points were shenmen,heart,subcortex,sympathetic,occiput,liver and spleen.Subjects in the treatment group were tasked to massage each auricular point for two minutes,three times a day.Magnetic beads were changed once every four days,alternating between both ears,starting with left ear.Both groups were assessed for changes in sleep quality and severity of the liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and TCM Syndrome Scale on day 14 and day 28.Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 21.0.Results:51 eligible cases were first enrolled in this study.26 and 25 subjects were assigned to the treatment group and control group respectively.Five dropped out from the treatment group and four from the control group.Three who dropped out from the treatment group experienced an adverse reaction,which subsided once the magnetic beads were removed and no additional treatment was required.No significant difference was found between the two groups’ age,disease duration,Western treatment situation,pre-treatment sleep quality and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome severity(P>0.05).Treatment outcomes:(1)Sleep quality:No significant difference was observed between the overall efficacy of the two groups.The treatment group had a statistically lower daytime dysfunction score than the control group on day 14.The control group showed significant improvement in PSQI score,subjective sleep quality and habitual sleep efficiency on day 14(P<0.05),and PSQI score,subjective sleep quality,sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency on day 28(P<0.05).The treatment group showed significant improvement in PSQI score,subjective sleep quality,sleep latency and habitual sleep efficiency on day 14(P<0.05),and PSQI score,sleep quality,sleep latency,sleep duration,habitual sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction on day 28(P<0.05).(2)Liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome:The treatment group showed a statistically higher overall efficacy than the control group(P<0.05).No significant change was observed in the control group on day 14(P>0.05).The control group showed significant improvement in sleep and emotion on day28(P<0.05)and the differences in insomnia and depression scores between day 14 and day 28 were statistically significant(P<0.05).The treatment group showed significant improvement in sleep and emotion on day 14 and day 28(P<0.05).Conclusions:(1)Auriculotherapy using magnetic beads was effective in improving sleep onset latency and daytime dysfunction.(2)Auriculotherapy using magnetic beads was effective in relieving liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome.(3)Chinese herbal concoction was able to improve liver depression and spleen deficiency symptoms faster when used in conjunction with auriculotherapy.