Ear Acupuncture - What You Need to Hear About Auri

Several of our patients who have had acupuncture at our office have also experienced Needleless Ear Acupuncture; also called Auriculotherapy and Auricular Medicine.  It is a natural drug-free treatment, reasonably priced, and yet very effective and efficient.   Auricular Medicine is a highly developed system of diagnosis and treatment.  Some practitioners believe that by examining the ear, they may discover and treat ailments anywhere in the human body.  In our practice, we use the method primarily for the treatment of pain, although some of our patients have had favorable results with our protocols to quit smoking or to lose weight.

Auricular diagnosis reveals subtle disharmonies through the auricle by evaluating color, texture, reactivity to pressure, general shape, and changes in electrical conductivity in the skin.

Auricular Treatment is a process of pressing and massaging specific points on the ear that correspond to other areas of the body.  These methods are easy and for the most part painless because the skin is not punctured.  Simple as it is, ear acupuncture has proven to be very precise and effective. Auricular Medicine is an excellent alternative in the course of treatment to augment chiropractic care.

It is now more and more popular in the world, especially in Western World countries, such as the United States, Canada, and France.

Auricular Diagnosis

Unlike any other medical systems, auricular medicine can examine the physical conditions of a person in a very simple, cheap, but precise way. By checking different auricular points, one can get information about the health condition of a person.

Auricular Diagnosis is done through the following methods:

1) Inspection
This is a diagnostic method used to observe discoloration, deformity, desquamation, papule, and angioplerosis on the auricle. It is usually used for various acute or chronic diseases and for acute attack of chronic diseases. It is mainly applied to locate or treat the area of disease and for qualitative diagnosis.

2) Tenderness Method
It is a diagnostic method that employs the use of a probe or the detecting pen of an auricular detecting instrument to touch and to feel for tender auricular points, observe the reaction of the patient, and then use the key tender points to diagnose a disease. When a person suffers from an illness, especially for an acute injury or inflammatory process, the phenomena of a lowered pain threshold will appear on the auricular point that corresponds to the area of the lesion. This is the basis of the Tenderness Method. This method is applied for diagnosing various acute and painful processes, and determining the treatment of diseases.

3) Pressing Mark Method
It is a diagnostic method that employs the detecting pen to press the auricle and to observation the pressing mark. When a person is ill, a deformity such as an eminence or swelling will appear on the corresponding point on the auricle. The pressing marks have a difference in depth, coloration and the time of recovery. 

4) Palpation
This diagnostic method employs the use of touch. A detecting pen is used to touch inflammatory reactions, such as a protrusion, depression, or area of swelling. The point on the auricle will change its form variously along with the occurrence and development of the pathological changes when the person suffers from a disease. For chronic and organic diseases, a permanent mark often remains on the auricle after the disease has been successfully treated.

5) Auricular Electrical Detection
This is a diagnostic method that measures the auricular cutaneous resistance to electricity.  Analyzing the auricular points and taking the results can be a reference for diagnosis as well as a foundation of point selection. When a person is suffering an ailment, just as there occurs a lowered threshold for pain at the corresponding point, the cutaneous resistance to electricity of that auricular point will also decrease dramatically. So with an auricular detector, we can measure such change. The information we gathered can be applied for locating areas of concern in the body.

Onc can expect the following to occur on a visit involving Auricular Medicne:

• First: Inspection. The inspection is also called observation. For the first visit of a patient, it is best to do the auricular inspection first to find out the location of the focus and the stage of the disorder. Then we can make a further judgment according to the findings of palpation and electrical detection.
• Second: Palpation. Tenderness is the main change of acute disease, painful disease and the severe stage of a disorder. A deformity is the main change of chronic and organic disease. Palpation is very important in order to find out special changes of the auricular points.
  Palpation includes four detecting methods:
  1. Tenderness Method
  2. Pressing Mark Method
  3. Finger Feeling Method
  4. Pen (probe) Detecting Method
• Third: Electrical Detecting and Listening. It is a method of detection of the auricle with an auricular electrical detector, which can show the disorder in several ways. Then we analyze the positive reactions. Usually we will finish the palpation, electrical detection and listening at the same time. When examining the auricle with the pen of the auricular electrical detector, we pay attention not only to the numbers and sound but also to the form of the points touched by the detecting pen to see whether there are deformities such as a depression, protrusion, node, cord, or edema. This method is significant for the observation of the change in color and form of those points that tested positive by the number and sound.
• Fourth: Differentiation of Syndromes. It is a comprehensive method of the positive reactions we obtain through the three methods mentioned above, combined with the case history and applying the knowledge of TCM and Western Medicine, then we can make an accurate, differential diagnosis and provide a basis for treatment.

Auricular Treatment

Ears have been used to treat diseases in China for more than 2000 years. Based on the Theory of "Reversed Embryo", ears reflect the condition of the human body like a "Table of Contents."  Auricular Points are the specific locations that correspond to parts of the body.  By stimulating the auricular points, we can treat the disharmony of its corresponding part(s).

There are 16 important auricular treatment methods that have been developed, such as the Auricular Filliform Therapy, Auricular Electro-Acupuncture, and Auricular Point Injection Therapy.

Auricular Seed Therapy

This is also referred to as the "seed-pressure" method. It refers to applying a hard, smooth seed, herb, or a magnetic pellet on tape, to a selected auricular point, and pressing it properly, to stimulate the point, to treat various diseases. It is the most popular treatment methods under development in the past 25 years.

Auricular Seed Therapy was developed through Auricular Filliform Needling and Auricular Needle Imbedding Therapy.

Even though Auricular Filliform Needling and Auricular Needling Embedding Therapy are very effective in treating many diseases; needle insertion undoubtedly produces pain, which can be frightening to some patients.

Auricular Treatment, on the other hand, is safe and relatively painless. The patient can even constantly stimulate him/herself by pressing the seeds attached to the acupoints when they return home or to the activities of daily living.

This method is very suitable for children, or those others who are afraid of pain involving needles, or who can not receive treatment everyday. Through clinical practice records, it has been confirmed that Auricular Seed Therapy is more acceptable by the patients and it can achieve favorable therapeutic effects.

Auricular Massage Therapy

Massage is an external method of preventing and treating various diseases, by pressing, rubbing, kneading, twisting, pinching, digital pressing, and fingernail pressing.  It is easy and simple.    Kneading, or pressing certain points with a tender stick, or with the tip of an index finger gradually harder and harder until the patient has the sensation of heat, relaxation, and comfort in the corresponding area. This method is suitable for infants, children, painful diseases, indigestion, and patients with a sensitive constitution.

Auricular Bleeding Therapy

This is a method of treating disease by puncturing selected auricular point(s) with an auricular filliform needle, intradermal needle, etc.Auricular Bleeding Therapy is extremely efficient in dredging the channels, promoting blood circulation by removing blood stasis, tranquilizing the mind, clearing away heat, and relieving inflammation and pain.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is Auricular Medicine?

A: Auricular Medicine is a medical system with unique diagnosis and treatment methods. Unlike any other medicines, Auricular Medicine diagnoses and treats the ailments and injuries of the body through the ear.

2. What are the advantages of the Auricular Medicine?

A: Auricular Medicine has many advantages because of its unique methods in diagnosis and treatment:

• Natural.  There are no drugs.
• Painless: Although Auricular Medicine shares many common characters with the traditional Acupuncture, it is a relatively painless process, due to the nature that Auricular Treatment doesn't penetrate the skin.
• Simple: With Auricular Medicine, diagnosis and treatment are easy and affordable. Auricular Diagnosis offers a very simple diagnosis method by checking the shape and color changes and electrical signal variations.  Auricular Treatment is provides through seed application and massage.
• Cheap: Because Auricular Medicine requires no prescription, x-rays or other equipment, it is a much cheaper method compared to other forms of care.
• Effective: Though Auricular Medicine is simple, yet it has been proved to be very effective in both diagnosis and treatment.

   

3. What is Auricular Diagnosis?

A: Auricular Diagnosis is the summary of the diagnosis methods of Auricular Medicine. The Unique feature of Auricular Diagnosis is that the health conditions of the patient can be simply checked through the ear. By checking the color, shape, and electrical signal changes at certain acupoints, the practitioner can draw the conclusion whether there are any health problems there, or even the potential of some physical changes

4. What is Auricular Treatment?

A: Auricular Treatment is a method which treats the disease(s) through corresponding acupoint(s). Auricular Treatment is a simple, painless, yet efficient method. The most commonly used Auricular Treatment methods are Auricular Seed Methods, Auricular Massage, and Auricular Bleeding methods.

5. What is an acupoint?

A: An acupoint is a specific point on the ear which has special value in diagnosis and/or treatment. Most acupoints are corresponding to a specific part of the body, such as organs & joints, while some points are specific to certain conditions.

6. Why ear can be used to diagnosis and treat disease?

A: There are different theories behind this. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ear is believed to have a close relationship with the twelve channels and collaterals, and is the place where the meridians pass through, end and intersect with each ear. Treating the ear can stimulate the channels and collaterals, which results in improving the health condition. P. Nogier proposed the theory of "reversed embryo" to help us understand the organization of the specific points on the ear as they relate to the body.

7. How long has the auricle been applied to treat diseases?

A: Based on the records of the ancient Chinese medical books, auricle has been used to treat diseases in China for about 2000 years.

8. What is Auricular Seed Therapy?

A: This is a treatment methods that refers to applying a hard, smooth seed, herb, or a magnetic pellet on tape, to a selected auricular point, and pressing it properly, to stimulate the point, to treat various diseases. Auricular Seed Therapy is a safe and relatively painless method. The patient can even constantly stimulate him/herself by pressing the seeds attached to the acupoints. This method is very suitable for children, or those others who are afraid of pain, or who can not receive treatment everyday. Through clinical practice records, it has been confirmed that Auricular Seed Therapy is more acceptable by the patients and that it can achieve favourable therapeutic effects.

9. What is Auricular Massage Therapy?

A: Auricular Massage Therapy is an easy and simple external method by pressing, rubbing, kneading, twisting, pinching, digital pressing, and fingernail pressing the ear. By massaging the ear correctly, one can help treat and prevent certain conditions.

10. What is Auricular Bleeding Therapy?

A: Auricular Bleeding Therapy is a method of treating disease by puncturing selected auricular point(s) with an auricular filliform needle, intradermal needle, etc. Because this method is very effective in treating high fever, headache, dizziness and vertigo etc, it is adopted as one of the three main treatment methods in Auricular Medicine. Auricular Bleeding Therapy is extremely efficient in dredging the channels, promoting blood circulation by removing blood stasis, tranquilizing the mind, clearing away heat, and relieving inflammation and pain.