Auriculotherapy for Smoking Cessation: A Systematic Review

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[...] Participants were adults aged 18 to 65 years, followed in a pain management clinic for opioid withdrawal or cessation. The sample consisted mainly of Caucasian patients (93.3%) and males with a mean age of 56.5 years. Results - Anxiety and depression : The acupuncture group had slightly higher anxiety (HADS 7.0 vs 6.5), but lower depression compared to the control group (HADS 4.0 vs 6.5). - Withdrawal symptoms : The control group reported more intense withdrawal symptoms (CINA 9.0 vs 3.5). [...]

[...] This field is receptive to external stimuli in terms of peripheral nerve stimulation. Notably, the aVN allows for easy external access via electrical stimulation, thus facilitating a direct and favorable connection between the applied stimuli and the brainstem. The brainstem plays a mediating role, propagating the signals from aVNS to higher brain regions through extensive projections to second- and third-order neurons (Mercante et al., 2018)47. The auricle, and particularly its aVN terminals, could become a direct and powerful access route to modulate various brain functions, offering non-invasive and cost-effective manipulation of the central nervous system. [...]

[...] To what extent does the investigation of auriculotherapy in the treatment of addictions as a complement to existing therapies constitute a benefit? Rationale for the study of auriculotherapy as a complementary therapeutic approach in the management of addictions: theoretical foundations and clinical data INTRODUCTION Context and challenges of addiction, major challenge for public health : The French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Trends (OFDT, 2024)1 a published an in-depth analysis of consumption behaviors of psychoactive substances and addictive practices, with the aim of guiding public policies. [...]

[...] In a separate group analysis, only the number of cigarettes was significantly lower for MMT+AA participants, while, except for the dose of methadone, all other parameters improved significantly in the MMT+AA group. AA therapy also showed favorable acceptability and tolerable side effects. The results suggest that AA could be beneficial as an adjunct to MMT in managing dependence, but the efficacy of AA requires further investigation. STUDY NO. The effects of auricular acupuncture on smoking cessation may not depend on the point chosen: An exploratory meta-analysis. [...]

[...] The combination of results from ten studies showed that auricular acupuncture at 'correct' points was more effective than control interventions, with an odds ratio of 2.24 CI 1.61, 3.10), a result confirmed by the four high-quality studies. Other analyses revealed inconsistent results between all studies and high-quality studies. Comparisons between three high-quality studies suggest that auricular acupuncture at 'correct' and 'incorrect' points does not differ (odds ratio CI 0.72, 2.07). Two studies showed that auricular acupuncture at 'incorrect' points may be more effective than other interventions (odds ratio CI 1.00, 3.86). Auricular acupuncture appears to be effective for smoking cessation, but this effect may not depend on the location of the points. [...]