Objective To observe the influence of needle-retaining duration of auricular acupuncture on the movement of chronic inflammatory gallbladder for providing the reference for the best needle-retaining time and frequency of acupuncture.Methods Twenty-two chronic cholecystitis patients were randomized into the 30min group and 60min group with 11 cases in each.Both groups were treated with auricular acupuncture at pancreas-gallbladder point of both sides.The needles were manipulated with moderate stimulation of rotating for 30s and then retained.In the duration of needle-retaining

the needles were rotated once every 10min with moderate stimulation for 30s each side.The retaining time for one group was 30min and for the other was 60min.The gallbladder volume 5min before acupuncture and 10

20

30

40

50

and 60min after acupuncture was recorded and the contraction rate was calculated.Results In the 30min group

the gallbladder volume 20min after acupuncture was statistically different from that of 5min before acupuncture（P<0.05）.In the 60min group

the gallbladder volume at the time points 20

40

and 50min after acupuncture was statistically different from that of 5min before acupuncture（P<0.05）.The reduction amplitude of gallbladder volume of both groups in the first 30min was the same

and it reached the peak value of contraction 20min after acupuncture

while at the time point 30min after acupuncture

the reduction amplitude in the 60min group was stronger than that in the 30min group.A stable tension state of gallbladder was maintained after 40min needle-retaining.In the comparison between the two groups

there was no statistical difference in the gallbladder volume and contraction rate at different time points（P>0.05）.Conclusion Auricular acupuncture at pancreas-gallbladder point could significantly promot the systaltic movement of the chronic inflammatory gallbladder.The best needle-retaining time is 40min

and the advisable frequency of acupuncture is twice a day.