More commonly known as ear acupuncture, auricular acupuncture or auriculotherapy is an alternative therapeutic modality that places the ear to be the vital point of healing. The principle behind this therapy lies in the fact that the outer ear is a microsystem that represents the entire human body. The various acupuncture points are designated on the auricle.
What Is Auricular Acupuncture?
Similar to traditional body Jacksonville acupuncture, auricular acupuncture is used for a number of mental, emotional, and physical ailments via the stimulation of certain primary acupoints on the outer ear. It yields impressive outcomes, and several clinical studies jibe with the results.
Origin
Developed in the mid 1950s, auricular acupuncture was first conceptualized by a French neurologist, Dr. Paul Nogier. His first observations of the effectiveness of the treatment were published post implementing clinical trials through phrenological technique. The ear was used as a reference point for ailments and pains and mapping was conducted to correlate with various areas of the body. Later on, the Chinese studied this map and took it to the barefoot physicians, which they, in turn customized the therapy with traditional Chinese medicine practices. The Chinese honored Nogier by bestowing him the title, “Father of Auricular Acupuncture”.
How Does One Perform Auricular Acupuncture?
The entire process is based on the principle of ear mapping. Nogier found an autonomic vascular signal that can be felt easily at the radial artery with the tip of a thumb. Those signals detected any meaningful deviation in the pulse’s amplitude.
Nogier concluded that the deviation only happens when the existing electromagnetic field of the patient acquires a new addition.
Ear mapping is mainly performed by accumulating a full map of the ear. These ear acupoints have moved over a certain period of time with varying practices and may not be exactly like that of the original plan of Nogier.
A laser or needle with a certain magnitude and frequency is utilized to activate the point signifying that specific area of the body.
Auricular Acupuncture Benefits
Auricular acupuncture therapy provides similar positive effects as acupuncture. The management of chronic pains can be achieved through the application of the therapy.
Research/Studies Associated with Efficacy
The publications of Nogier were initially met with a lot of resistance by the medical community. While the modality proved effective in curing specific illnesses conditions, no confirmed scientific evidences were concluded to that effect.
Dr David Alimi tried to substantiate the effect of maps projected on the ear in the early 2000’s. The medical community did not fail to debate the effects. University of Rochester Medical Center neuroscientist, Maiken Nedergaand, said that the tissue on the ear inserted with needles secretes adenosine in the body. Adenosine is a compound that enables the body to heal itself and to relieve pain.
Several different theories believed that the sticking of needles led to the secretion of endorphins in the bloodstream that blocked pain signals to the brain.
The PAIN medical journal recently published a study that validated the accuracy of ear mapping via diagnosis. An accuracy rate of 75% was achieved in a study of 40 patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain.