Explore the application effect of acupoint massage combined with ear point pressing beans in the remission stage of asthma.

Researchers in China studied whether combining acupoint massage with ear seed therapy could help children with asthma during their remission periods—the times between flare-ups when symptoms are less active. The study followed 120 children who visited pediatric outpatient clinics between 2016 and 2022, dividing them into two groups. All children continued using their standard inhaled asthma medication (salmeterol and fluticasone). One group received daily acupoint massage sessions lasting 30 minutes, performed Monday through Friday. The other group received both the acupoint massage and weekly ear seed therapy, where small beans were placed on specific ear points and pressed 3-5 times daily for one minute each. After eight weeks of treatment, both groups showed improvements in breathing tests and asthma control scores. However, children who received the combination of acupoint massage and ear seeds showed significantly better results, with a 95% clinical effectiveness rate compared to 81.67% in the massage-only group. The combination therapy improved lung function measurements including forced expiratory volume, vital capacity, and overall asthma control. These findings suggest that adding Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques to standard asthma care during remission periods may help children breathe better and maintain better control over their condition. While these results are promising, parents considering these therapies should work with a qualified, licensed acupuncturist experienced in pediatric care.

This randomized controlled trial (n=120) evaluated acupoint massage combined with auricular acupressure in pediatric asthma patients during remission. All subjects continued standard pharmacotherapy (salmeterol/fluticasone). The control group (n=60) received acupoint massage 30 minutes daily, five days weekly. The experimental group (n=60) received identical massage plus weekly auricular seed therapy with 3-5 daily self-administered compressions per point for one minute. After eight weeks, both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, and ACT scores (P<0.05). The experimental group achieved superior outcomes with 95% total clinical effective control rate versus 81.67% in controls (P<0.05). Clinical implications suggest auricular acupressure provides additive therapeutic benefit to acupoint massage for maintaining asthma control during remission phases. The protocol's feasibility allows for patient self-administration between clinical visits, potentially improving treatment compliance and sustained symptom management in pediatric populations.