Auricular acupoint sticking refers to a therapeutic method to embed the smooth and hard medicinal seeds or herbal pills on the ear points, such as Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae), magnetic beads, Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani), Bai Jie Zi (Semen Sinapis Albae), or plastic beads. 

     Developed from ear acupuncture, auricular acupoint sticking has extensive indications, quick effects, simple operation, easy popularization and affordable cost. In-depth analysis and studies on disease spectrum of acupuncture and disease spectrum of different therapies over the recent years have greatly contributed to the research advance in advantageous diseases indicated by acupuncture. 

     By using data from the Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture- moxibustion Information Databank, China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang) and Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), the relevant literature on auricular acupoint sticking in recent years was comprehensively searched, and by the statistical analysis of Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture-moxibustion Information Databank, auricular acupoint sticking was analyzed from multiple aspects including disease types, numbers and effective rates of various diseases, in order to confirm the current situation of clinical application of auricular acupoint sticking for advantageous disease category, and summarize and analyze the commonly used ear points, so as to further guide the clinical application of auricular acupoint sticking.

       It has been found that auricular acupoint sticking is more suitable for neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, digestive diseases, gynecological and dermal diseases. Comparatively, the recommended advantageous disease types are insomnia, obesity and constipation. The recommended secondary advantageous disease types are dysmenorrhea, myopia, allergic rhinitis, post-operative pain and acne vulgaris. In treatment of insomnia by auricular acupoint sticking, the points used at high frequencies are in turns Shenmen (TF4), Heart (CO15), Subcortex (AT4), Kidney (CO10), Spleen (CO13), Liver (CO12), and Sympathetic (AH6a), in order to calm down the mind, coordinate yin and yang, and regulate Zang-fu organs, so as to reestablish the balance between yin and yang of the human body and hence improve sleep by eliminating the disorder of yin and yang. In the treatment of constipation by auricular acupoint sticking, Rectum (HX2), Stomach (CO 4), Kidney (CO10), Sanjiao (CO17), Spleen (CO13), Subcortex (AT4), Sympathetic (AH6a), Lung (CO14), and Large Intestine (CO 7) are selected. Among them, Rectum (HX2), Large Intestine (CO7), Lung (CO14), and Sanjiao (CO17) are able to dredge the intestine, increase the peristalsis of the intestines, and regulate the dredging and descending action of the intestines. Sanjiao (CO17), Subcortex (AT4), and Sympathetic (AH6a) have the effects to circulate qi, promote bowel movement, dredge the abdomen and expel heat. Spleen (CO13), Stomach (CO4) and Kidney (CO10) are able to strengthen the spleen, benefit the kidney, replenish qi and promote bowel movement. All the points are combined to realize the goal to regulate Fu organs and promote bowel movement. In the treatment of obesity by auricular acupoint sticking, Endocrine (CO18), Spleen (CO13), Stomach (CO 4), Shenmen (TF 4), Sanjiao(CO17), Large Intestine (CO7), Hungry Spot (TG2) and Lung (CO14) are selected to strengthen the spleen and stomach, regulate qi, dissolve the turbidity, promote the lung in its dispersing ability and remove dampness, so as to normalize water metabolism and realize the goal to reduce body weight.

        In recent years, the clinical treatment by auricular acupoint sticking involves the diseases of sixteen systems, totally 152 types of diseases, indicating that auricular acupoint sticking has been used extensively in the domestic clinical services in the recent years. In the study on clinical disease spectrum and advantageous disease types by the large-size literature searching tool, the current situation about the application of auricular acupoint sticking can be reflected in certain degrees by the bibliometrics analysis and the statistical calculation of the mathematical formula, beneficial to the further guidance of the clinical application of auricular acupoint sticking and to the determination of the future research direction of auricular acupoint sticking. At the same time, the further performance of the mechanism research for explaining its functional principle, based upon the advantageous diseases of the clinical auricular acupoint sticking, is also a mission needed to start in the research field of ear points. 

This passage is from Yang Yan-ting, Huang Qin-feng, Jia Yi-fan, Liu Jie, Ma Xiao-peng