Auriculotheraphy

What Is Auriculotheraphy?

Within the ear there is a myriad of acupuncture points that represent specific areas and functions of the body. This creates a microsystem that reflects our health and that can be used for treatment; ear acupuncture can be an addition to whole body acupuncture or as a treatment on its own.

While auriculotherapy is typically associated with the 3,500 year old practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, its actual origins might surprise you.

In the 1950s, a French neurologist named Paul Nogier witnessed a colleague treating their patient’s lower back pain by cauterizing a sensitive area on their ear. This sparked Nogier’s interest so much so that he then developed a microsystem that depicted a neurological representation of the entire body as it relates to brain function, also known as an homunculus.

Looking at the ear, the distribution of points roughly translates to the image of an inverted person. Points for the head, neck and sensory organs near the bottom, rising up along the ear to the back and limbs with organs in the center.

Benefits

One of the benefits of ear acupuncture is its ease of application. It can be provided while the patient is seated, and there is no need to take off any clothing. This quickly became an attractive option for many people. It’s also an effective way to treat pain without applying needles to the area that hurts.

While ear acupuncture can be used as a stand-alone treatment, it is often added to full body acupuncture sessions as a way of reinforcing the therapy. One technique involves the application of ear seeds, or pellets that stimulate the “points”. These seeds are traditionally vacarria seeds (which resemble poppy seeds) and are on small bandages that hold them in place.

Leaving those seeds for a few days allow the benefits of treatment to continue after the patient leaves the clinic. They are barely noticeable and don’t get in the way of normal activities.

The spectrum of conditions treated with ear acupuncture is broad. Many studies have shown it is an effective treatment for weight loss, PTSD, menstrual pain, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and stress, and many other conditions.