Auricular-plaster therapy plus acupuncture at zusanli for postoperative recovery of intestinal function.

In order to relieve the abdominal distension and other discomforts due to gastrointestinal dysfunction after abdominal operations, the patients were treated by auricular-plaster therapy plus acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36). 12 (92.4%) of the 13 cases in the treatment group showed recovery of normal peristalsis within 72 hours after operations, while that in 13 cases of the control group was 46.1%, indicating that auricular-plaster therapy plus acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) may promote postoperative recovery of the intestinal function.