In order to treat pathological problems in other parts of the body, Auriculotherapy stimulates the auricle, the external surface of the ear. This technique was discovered by a French physician in the 1950s, but it also connects to the ancient Chinese practice of Acupuncture. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and classical acupuncture include inserting needles into ear acupoints, as well as body acupoints. In TCM, the outer part of the ear, the auricle, views the entire body and organ systems in an upside down fetus representation. Auriculotherapy can be done in the same or different session as other body acupuncture. Some acupuncturists only practice Auriculotherapy while others do not include any ear acupoints within their practice.
How Does Auriculotherapy Work?
Different points on the ear have been connected to treat various amount of problems. When stimulated, the points have great affects on the targeted area of the body. The reasoning behind the affect of stimulation on certain points is subject of ongoing research, and there are several theories behind Auriculotherapy.
What Should I Expect?
The practitioner will typically begin by examining certain points that could relate to your problem. By inspecting both ears, they may be checked by palpation, electrical testing, or visual inspection. When the active points are discovered, they will be assessed and treated with different possible methods, such as laser stimulation, taping of a take or seed to the skin, pressure, or the insertion of small acupuncture needles.
What Can Auriculotherapy Treat?
Auriculotherapy is typically used for pain management, addictions, cravings, weight loss, and assistance with mental or emotional troubles. However, due to Auriculotherapy’s connection to any part of the body, almost every problem could be treated through the ear acupoints.
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Ear Seeds - Treatment
One form of Auriculotherapy is ear seed taping. The acupuncturist will evaluate which is the best series of treatments. Usually the first visits will include needles and electro stimulation. Based on the treatment, the acupuncturist may choose to use ear seeds. The seeds are vaccaria seeds, used due to the size and composition. They are the size of an acupoint on the ear, and the shell is very hard and will not break down with the body oils. The vaccaria seeds will usually stay in for around 2-5 showers. When the seeds are ready to fall, the adhesive will slowly separate from the skin and the adhesive turns to a gooey consistency. To remove them, lean your ear towards the floor and gently pull them off. This method is preferred over ear stapling, due to its numerous amount of negative effects.
Battlefield Acupuncture
Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) is commonly used in replacement of pain medications such as narcotics to treat pain relief. BFA is a technique that focuses on stimulation of the ear through ASP needles to target the central nervous system’s pain processing. This technique can bring immediate relief to the patient that lasts for long periods of time. BFA has also been used to treat insomnia and anxiety. This treatment is used to assist patients reaching their goals of a healthy, pain-free lifestyle.
ASP Needles are semi-permanent acupuncture needles used to enhance treatment. These ear needles are able to stay in the auricular points for longer periods of time for better stimulation of the ear. Each ASP needle is gold-plated and comes with a stimulator magnet.
