Anxiolytic effects of Auriculotherapy in Young People and Adults

Abstract

Anxiety is a psychiatric disorder that can be disabling, causing suffering. As it has a high prevalence among Brazilians, intensified by COVID-19 pandemic, safe management of its signs and symptoms should be explored, such as integrative practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a single session of auriculotherapy in the management of anxiety in young people and adults with levels of anxiety classified as moderate to high. The volunteers were randomized into 2 groups: in the Real Auriculotherapy Group, an auriculotherapy session was performed using points to control anxiety, and the Placebo Auriculotherapy Group, which received points without therapeutic values for anxiety (lumbar spine line). Anxiety levels were classified using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which were collected at the initial (before the session) and late (after 4 days) moments of the study. The volunteers also had their energy measured by the Ryodoraku method at the beginning, final (after the session) and late of the study. Both real and placebo therapy were able to reduce VAS and STAI anxiety scores comparing early and late times. All volunteers started the study with an average of general energy in deficiency, which still had a reduction in the final and late moments. The Ryodoraku measures showed a regulation of energy especially in the meridians related to the therapy chosen for each group, and in the Real Group the meridian in question was the Small Intestine, and in the Placebo was the Bladder meridian (related to the points on the lumbar line). The present study demonstrated that a single session of auriculotherapy was able to reduce anxiety in young and adult volunteers in both groups, and there was a change in the energy profile in the real and placebo groups.