Efficacy of Auricular Acupressure Combined With Antihistamines in Patients With Wind-Heat Type Urticaria.

This study is a randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial designed to assess the therapeutic effects of auricular acupressure in patients with Wind-Heat type urticaria. The study will recruit 66 eligible patients at the Dermatology Department of Le Van Thinh Hospital. Participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups (33 patients per group):

• Intervention Group: Patients will receive a standard oral dose of Loratadine (10mg/day) and undergo true auricular acupressure. Vaccaria seeds (Vương bất lưu hành) will be taped to five specific acupoints: Shenmen (TF4), Sympathetic (AH6), Endocrine (CO18), Adrenal (TG2), and Lung (CO14).
• Control Group: Patients will receive a standard oral dose of Loratadine (10mg/day) and undergo sham auricular acupressure. Vaccaria seeds will be taped to five non-therapeutic points: Helix 2 (HX10), Shoulder (SF4), Eye (LO5), Clavicle (SF6), and Tooth (LO1).

Study Procedures:

• In both groups, the auricular acupressure patches will be applied by a qualified practitioner. Patients will be instructed to stimulate the acupoints by pressing each patch for 1 to 2 minutes, 2 to 3 times daily. The patches will remain on one ear for 7 days. At weekly follow-up visits, the old patches will be removed, and new patches will be applied to the opposite ear. The total intervention period is 4 weeks (4 sessions).

Outcome Assessments:

• Primary Outcome: The primary efficacy measure is the reduction in clinical symptoms, assessed using the Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7). Patients will self-evaluate their daily wheals and pruritus, and the total score will be recorded weekly from baseline (T0) to week 4 (T1, T2, T3, T4).
• Secondary Outcome: The impact on the patients' quality of life will be evaluated using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. This will be assessed at baseline (T0) and at the end of the 4-week treatment period (T4).
• Safety Monitoring: Any adverse events associated with auricular acupressure (such as local pain, bleeding, skin infection, cartilage damage, fainting, or vertigo) will be closely monitored, recorded, and managed appropriately during the 30-minute post-application observation period and throughout the 4-week study duration.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with urticaria according to the international EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI 2022 guidelines.
• Presenting typical clinical symptoms of urticaria.
• Experiencing persistent itching and wheals, with an Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) indicating an itching and discomfort level of ≥ 1.
• Diagnosed with the Wind-Heat syndrome according to Traditional Medicine criteria by a certified practitioner. Diagnosis requires the presence of main symptoms (persistent itchy rash, intense itching, bright red wheals) and at least 2 secondary symptoms (restlessness, feverish sensation, aversion to heat, sore throat, symptoms worsening with heat, thin yellow tongue coating, floating rapid pulse).
• Voluntarily agrees to participate and signs the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Having contraindications to auricular acupressure according to the Ministry of Health, including severe physical exhaustion or immunodeficiency.
• Having skin infections, inflammation, or ulceration at the auricular acupoint areas.
• Experiencing acute pain suspected to be of surgical origin or in an emergency condition.
• Pregnant women.
• Use of stimulants (alcohol, beer, coffee, tobacco) within 24 hours prior to the study intervention.
• Severe cognitive impairment or inability to understand the study protocol.
• History of allergy or hypersensitivity to second-generation H1 antihistamines.
• Currently participating in another interventional clinical study.