Ear freezing therapy tested for insomnia – does it work?

NCT ID NCT04471168

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Hopital Foch Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested a technique called cryo-auriculotherapy, where a device freezes specific spots on the ear, to see if it helps people with chronic insomnia. Sixty-five adults with moderate to severe insomnia received either real or sham (fake) treatments over three months. The main goal was to see if the real treatment led to a bigger drop in insomnia scores compared to the sham.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: cryo-auriculotherapy (ear freezing device)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a non-drug option for managing chronic insomnia.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed trial with only 65 participants. The improvement measured is modest (3-point drop on a sleep scale), and the sham group also received a procedure, so the real benefit may be small or due to placebo.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

insomnia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CHRONIC INSOMNIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Cabinet Médical Nouvelle France

Le Chesnay, Yvelines, 78158, France
Cabinet de l'Olivier

Montigny-le-Bretonneux, Yvelines, 78423, France
Espace Santé Simone Veil

Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts de Seine, 97132, France
Hopital Foch

Suresnes, 92150, France

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