ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of auricular point therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome.Methods Eighty patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 40 cases each. The treatment group received ear acupuncture plus auricular plaster therapy and the control group, conventional acupuncture. The overall symptom was scored, the Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI) score was recorded and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) were measured in the two groups before treatment and after four courses.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the overall symptom score, the FAI score and immunoglobulins in the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the FAI score, and IgA and IgG between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Auricular point therapy is an effective way to treat chronic fatigue syndrome.