Objective To explore the rule of clinical application of auricular acupuncture therapy by data mining in order to guide clinical practice.Methods The data base about single auricular acupuncture therapy for different clinical diseases was established by collection

sorting

screening

recording

collation

data extraction

statistic analysis on data samples from journals

academic theses dissertations published in near 60 years.The application rules of auricular therapy including its predominant diseases

stimulus modality

therapeutic effect

and angle of needling were summarized by data mining technique.Results Auricular acupuncture therapy has been widely and mostly used in the internal medicine department

accounting for 48.56%.Of stimulus modalities

auricular point paste and pressure is applied with the highest frequency

accounting for 64%.The highest effective rate is found in the surgery department diseases(81.41%).Pressure is the most effective stimulus in the internal medicine department

and bloodletting combined with paste and pressure in the surgery department

auricular point injection in the gynecology and pediatrics departments

bloodletting in the ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology department

and auricular point incision in the dermatology department.Auricular point injection has remarkable effect.Bloodletting combined with paste and pressure has nearly the same effect as bloodletting in the same medical department except dematology department.Otherwise

angle of needling is rarely studied.Conclusion Auricular therapy is widely used and has remarkable effect in treating diseases by using different stimulus modalities.Whereas the angle of needling is rarely studied and future investigation is needed.