In all kinds of diseases, Bellingham traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has always provided people with different and unique approaches to healing. These techniques are painless, safe, and natural, and don’t require the use of drugs. According to TCM, the human body is deemed to maintain a fine balance with its surroundings via the exchange of energy. Positive energy eliminates negative energy and always flows through the body. The entire system of the body works for this exchange just to preserve balance. One great method used in TCM to maintain balance is auricular acupuncture.
A Chinese medicine concept that focuses on the auricle or externa ear for treatment, auricular acupuncture uses the outer ear to treat illnesses or maintain health in the other parts of the body. Studies have shown that the auricle can be used as a system to control major activities of the body and body organs. This part of the head is comprised of many so-called acupuncture points that are in some or another connected to the entire body. Here filiform needles are stuck in these acupoints. The insertion results in the stimulation of these points which produces signals that reaches the brain, which in turn stimulates the organ in question. This stimulation boosts the functioning of that organ by enhanced muscle movement, increased blood flow and the removal of toxins from the body.
Auricular acupuncture works based on three theories:
- Meridian theory – This concept is mainly followed in Chinese herbal medicine. According to the meridian model, energy circulates through permanent energy channels called meridians. Any obstruction in any of the meridians is the underlying cause of illness; therefore, stimulation of the auricular acupoints leads to therapeutic effects on the meridians.
- Delta reflex theory – According to this concept, the stimulation of acupoints in the auricle causes the body part in question to be stimulated. This leads to a rise in temperature of that body part as well as a temperature rise in the corresponding part of the auricle. They both function as lock and key in which the auricular acupoint serves as the key to the lock of the body organs.
- Anatomical theory – This model states that the position of the auricular points on the map can be deemed as that of an upside-down fetus. Whatever information is conveyed to the body parts is also conveyed to the outer ear, which makes it bidirectional in movement.
Western medicine has adopted these Chinese ancient theories and techniques with a few tweaks in the form of upgrades. Auricular acupuncture is a branch of Chinese medicine that mainly uses needles to stimulate the meridians. Western medicine has upgraded it in the form of Auriculotherapy. This modern form of acupuncture uses advanced technologies such as electricity, pressure pellets, magnets, laser, and other things, to activate the energy channels in the auricle. Auriculotherapy was invented by Dr. Paul Nogier, a French neurologist.
Auricular acupuncture generates various healing benefits on the entire body since it targets the acupoints scattered across the body. It helps stabilize the emotions and mind and can treat insomnia, stress, depression, and anxiety. In addition, it can address ailments and pain like muscular tension and aches, headaches, migraines, backaches, and arthritis. Its association with the respiratory and digestion organs of the body makes it capable of treating constipation, bronchitis, asthma, colitis, and indigestion. Plus, it is a very good way of permanently eliminating vices such as alcohol and smoking from your system. Auricular acupuncture can also preserve the balance of women’s bodies during their menstrual periods.
You need a qualified acupuncturist who has trained or specialized in auricular acupuncture if you want to experience the best outcomes from the therapy. These specialists are totally aware of the over 200 acupuncture points located in your auricle. One important thing to note is that the needle should be stuck into the auditory channel reaching the inner ear. Inserting the wrong area with a needle may result in injury to the ear and might even lead to deafness to the patient’s ear. The treatment should be done on the fleshy part of the ear called the pinna.