Harding, C., Harris, A., & Chadwick, D. (2008). Auricular acupuncture: A novel treatment for vasomotor symptoms associated with luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone agonist treatment for prostate cancer. British Journal of Urology International, 103, 186–190.

To evaluate the role of auricular acupuncture (AA) in men receiving luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues for prostate cancer on hot flash incidence and severity

The study enrolled 60 consecutive men with prostate cancer who were receiving on LHRH agonist treatment.  Their median age was74 years, and they received weekly AA for 10 weeks.

Patients recorded the frequency of hot flash episodes during the day and at night at 0, 4, and 10 weeks. Participants were asked to grade the intensity of their hot flashes on a 0–6 scale, with 6 representing maximum intensity, and they recorded these data at 0, 4, and 10 weeks.

95% of patients reported a decrease in the severity of symptoms, from a mean of 5.0 to 2.1 (Student’s test, p < 0.01).

Limitations of this study included using a convenience sample and absence of a control group.