1. Effect of NADA ear acupuncture protocol on stress markers Krisztina J. Kovács 1, Ajándék Eőry 2 and Ajándok Eőry 3 Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University and Hungarian Association of Acupuncture and Moxibution, Budapest, Hungary

2. Stress and ADDICTION

3. Stress and addiction

4. Stress and ADDICTION There is a strong connection between stress and drug abuse Stress is the most powerful trigger for relapse Initial drug taking- Stress relieving technique Drug withdrawal is extremely stressful Addicts are very often hypersensitive to stress

5. AIMS To study the effectiveness of NADA protocol on measures of anxiety and stess Spielberger’s state and trait anxiety inventory Cortisol

6. The Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and the neuroendocrine stress response SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION

7. Why to measure cortisol from saliva? Cortisol (as other steroid hormones) enters the saliva by passive diffusion. Free steroid levels are measured Serum:saliva correlation is 99% ! Saliva Non invasive sample collection. Easy to collect Repetead sample collection (daily fluctuation etc) Easy to measure (Enzyme Immune Assay-EIA-SALIMETRCS) Stress-related biomarkers in the saliva: Cortisol - HPA axis alfa amylase – sympathetic activity sIgA – immunemarker – mucosa releated immunity HSP-70 – HPA + sympathetic activity Furthermore: DNA – genetic polymorphism (GR, 5-HTTLPR, PreproNPY Pro7)

8. SUBJECTS and STUDY DESIGN Subjects: 3 subjects attending NADA tretment sessions were selected for the study. 24 women average age: 58,2 years and 6 men (age average: 56,3) were recruited. Two saliva samples were collected by SALIVETTE (Sarstedt) First sample right before Ear acupuncture Second sample: half an hour after removal of the needles Collection of the first saliva sample Collection of the second saliva sample NADA Ear acupuncture 30 min STAI-S (Pre) and STAI-T STAI-S (Post)

9. NADA Treatment and Sham points Sham points: knee, prostate, sciatic, shoulder, 3M

10. NADA PATIENTS - HIGH TRAIT ANXIETY P<0.02

11. NADA PATIENTS - HIGH STATE ANXIETY LEVELS P<0.02

12. P<0.001

13. NS

14. Two population in NADA treated patients- Saliva CORTISOL levels

15. The anxiety scores of the patient population were higher than the average CONCLUSION: NADA treatment significantly reduced state anxiety levels in all patients Changes in saliva cortisol values measured shortly after NADA treatment were not statistically significant In those clients, who had high cortisol levels before treatment, NADA protocol resulted in significant resuction of the stress hormone cortisol