Objective To explore the effects of Bushen Jiedu Formula combined with auricular pressure by coxherb seeds on cancer pain and quality of life in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Methods A total of 120 patients with advanced colorectal cancer admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to May 2023 were included in the study, and were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (60 cases) received routine nursing care and the "three-step" analgesic method to intervene pain, while the observation group (60 cases) received treatment with Bushen Jiedu Formula combined with auricular pressure by coxherb seeds on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for one month. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score, the therapeutic effect, the quality of life (QOL) score and the occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the levels of substance P (SP), β-endorphin (β-EP) and prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂) of the two groups before and after treatment in serum were detected.

Results After treatment, the NRS score and the levels of SP, β-EP and PGE₂ in the observation group were (2.23±0.64), (11.51±2.64) ng/mL, (78.64±9.46) ng/L and (41.90±6.32) ng/L, respectively, which were lower than (2.87±1.25), (15.64±2.42) ng/mL, (101.29±11.26) ng/L and (78.63±10.17) ng/L, respectively of the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate and QOL score of the observation group were 90.00% and (51.92±5.66), which were higher than 75.00% and (43.58±5.12), respectively of the control group (P < 0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion The combination of Bushen Jiedu Formula and auricular pressure by coxherb seeds can obviously improve the cancer-induced pain of patients with advanced colorectal cancer, improve their quality of life, and have good safety.