Objective

2

To investigate the effect of ear seed acupressure on pressure pain thresholds and pain tolerance in healthy individuals.

Methods

2

60 students of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled in this study from January 2021 to March 2021

and the participants were randomly divided into the experimental group (

n

=30) and the control group (

n

=30) by the random number table method. The experimental group received the auricular acupressure at the subcortex

Shenmen (TF4)

and adrenal gland points on their ears

and the subjects in the control group received the technique at false points. The pressure pain thresholds and pain tolerance were measured before and 15 min

30 min

1 h after the first intervention

and 7 and 14 days afterwards.

Results

2

The comparison result of pressure pain thresholds at different time points in the two groups showed that the pressure pain thresholds of the experimental group gradually increased after 15 min to the 7th day

and the difference between the time points was statistically significant (

F

time

=39.526

P

<

0.05). There was a significant difference in pressure pain thresholds between the two groups (

F

=1.211

P

<

0.05). The interaction between the acupressure and duration had an effect on the pressure pain thresholds (F interaction=29.831;

P

<

0.05). The result of the comparison of pain tolerance at different time points in the two groups showed that the pain tolerance of the experimental group gradually increased after 15 minutes of intervention to the 7th day

and the difference between different time points was statistically significant (

F

time

=18.805

P

<

0.05). There was a significant difference in pain tolerance between the two groups (

F

=0.251

P

<

0.05). The interaction between the intervention and duration had an effect on the pain tolerance (

F

interaction

=14.914;

P

<

0.05).

Conclusion

2

Auricular acupressure with vaccaria seeds can help improve the pressure pain thresholds and pain tolerance of and thus exert an analgesic effect on healthy people.