Supportive Analgesic Effect of Auricular Acupressure (AA) After Cesarean Section (CS)

Introduction: Severe acute pain after cesarean section is an independent risk factor for the development of chronic pain and increases the risk of postpartum depression threefold. Pain also reduces the mother's ability to breastfeed and care for her child. This study aimed to evaluate the supportive effectiveness of auricular acupressure in reducing incision pain and uterine contraction pain in women undergoing cesarean section, compared with sham auricular acupressure. Methods: A randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was conducted in seventy women undergoing cesarean section, randomly allocated (1:1) to an auricular acupressure or sham group. The study group received vaccaria seeds, and the sham group received non-vaccaria patches on both ears. Both groups were treated at the Shenmen, Lung, Internal Genitalia, Pelvis, Subcortex, and Sympathetic points. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and diclofenac consumption was recorded over the first 48 hours postpartum.