Effect of auriculotherapy on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: A systematic review

Introduction Given the high prevalence of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, women urgently need guidance based on high-quality evidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of auriculotherapy on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and to provide evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals and women to manage this issue. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in eight online databases from inception to 6 January 2022. Randomized controlled trials involving auricular acupressure for women with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy were identified. Descriptive analysis was employed to summarize the outcomes of auriculotherapy. Results Thirteen studies were identified with a total of 1026 participants. Pooled results of outcomes from these studies were not possible, due to methodological and clinical heterogeneity. The effect rate of auriculotherapy in managing hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) ranged from 80.0 to 97.1% in the intervention groups and from 38.0 to 90.0% in the control groups. For nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), there was a slightly significant difference between two groups (p < 0.05). No study evaluated the quality of life and psychological status of pregnant women. Conclusions This systematic review reveals that the efficacy of auricular acupressure in managing NVP is insufficient and the efficacy of auricular acupressure for treating NVP remains limited. Rigorously designed RCTs based on a large sample size with specific outcomes and measurement tools are needed in the future.