Ear Acupuncture
Ear acupuncture is also known as auricular acupuncture/auricular therapy. It is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine where certain dysfunctions of our body can be treated by stimulating certain points on the ear.
It was first referred to by a pioneering published medical book- Huangdi Neijing in ancient China during 475 -221 BC. In modern times, ear acupuncture has been widely used for many conditions, including withdrawal symptoms, digestive issues, stress and anxiety, obesity and other conditions. The acupuncture points found on the ear help to normalise and regulate the body’s internal organs and its functions.
Paul Nogier, published more recent findings about the subject in 1950. He was a physician who has been inspired by a Chinese friend who resided in France. He discovered that ear acupuncture works because “groups of pluripotent cells contain information from the whole organism and create regional organisation centres representing different parts of the body”.
Modern research confirmed the success of ear acupuncture for analgesic effect and efficacy of anxiety related issues. A recent controlled clinical trial in 2015 found that ear acupuncture therapy works for reducing painful sensations with analgesic effect and has been demonstrated to be as effective as conventional therapies in the control of facial pain. Another study confirmed that the ear acupuncture in the control of migraine pain even without penetrating the ear skin.
Acupuncture for Ear Acupuncture
Although the reflex system of ear acupuncture or its correspondence do not correlate to the knowledge of mainstream medicine -anatomy and physiology, its efficacy in terms of treating pain both acute and chronic is been confirmed by modern studies. Modern research is still trying to understand and explain the effect of therapeutic reflexes induced by ear acupuncture, the role of endorphin systems underlying the mechanisms of auricular therapy. Ear acupuncture has been widely used to treat a variety of health issues apart from pain control. An observation of ear acupuncture shows the sympathomimetic effect in assisting weight loss.
According to the Chinese national acupuncture standard-GB/T13734－92, there are 91 acupoints on each ear. They are located throughout our ear including ear lobe, ear auricle, helix, ear tragus etc. At Essential Acupuncture Clinic, Julie adopts the classic Chinese acupuncture method which is by inserting fine small needles into certain points/parts of the ear after a delegated consultation (often used for acute intolerant pain attacks such as migraine or gall stone).
Different stimulating method such as ear seeds, ear tacks, ear magnetic ball are often used in practice as they can be left in ear for a few days or over a week . Ear seeds/tacks is often chosen in combined with regular (body) acupuncture treatment since only a few ear acupoints are selected for each treatment period. The aim is to target the relevant meridians and acupoints in order to achieve the maximum result.
Call Julie today to make an appointment!
0430 886 998