Auricular Therapy - The Ear

The basic concept of Auricular Therapy is that the nerves in the skin overlay specific areas of the external ear which correspond to specific parts of the brain, which has a reflex connection to the body. These reflexes are activated when problems in part of the body induce reflex reactions in the external ear, manifested as changes in tenderness and altered blood circulation. These reflexes are activated when points on an ear are stimulated to relieve pathology in another area of the body.

Stimulation of ear reflex points leads to an enhancement of diminished tender activity of the affected region. By correcting pathological reflex centers in the brain, stimulation of auricular points can lead to balance, where any form of stress or pain is lessened.

Dr. Ed Sullivan DC, PhD, BCIA, Dipl AC

Auricular reflexology can be used to treat health conditions in distant parts of the body. By stimulating points in the ear can not only help problems in the face and head, but can also relieve pathological disorders in the chest, abdomen, lower back and feet. According to theory, it is not that there are direct connections between the ear and the back, rather nerves from the ear connect to reflex centers in the brain, which send neurological reflex pathways to the spinal cord and then to neurons going to the spine or to the foot.

Almost all health conditions can be affected to some degree by stimulated ear points. The most common reported uses have been for control of chronic pain, detoxification from addictions, (smoking and heroin and cocaine), relief from nausea, and high blood pressure.

Human studies have shown that stimulation of ear acupuncture points appears to cause the systemic release of endorphins.

According to the principles of auricular therapy, each area of the ear corresponds to a different anatomical portion of the body. A large number of sites have been identified on the ear which become spontaneously tender or otherwise react to the presence of disease or injury elsewhere in the body.

These sites are reportedly consistent from one individual to the next.

Stimulation of these ear points in time exerts certain therapeutic effects on those parts of the body with which they are associated. As a comprehensive system of diagnosis and treatment, ear reflexology is of recent origin. A French physician by the name of Nogier, writing in a German acupuncture periodical in 1957, first drew serious attention to the correspondences between specific sites on the ear and other parts of the body.

After years of careful observation relating points of tenderness, morphological and coloration changes on the ear to disease elsewhere in the body, more than 200 sites were charted on the auricle (ear) by Chinese medical workers. Ear reflexology is not only effective in the treatment of a wide range of common illnesses, it can also be used with good results in the treatment of difficult emotional states.

Besides assessing the treatment effects resulting from auricular therapy, both French and Chinese physicians have reported that it is possible to diagnose a variety of pathological conditions by examining the ear. When there is a pain problem involving a given area of the body, the corresponding ear point is said to be "reactive", manifesting greatly increased tenderness and electrical conductivity as compared to the surrounding areas of the ear. Several investigators have provided clinical evidence supporting the therapeutic efficiency of auricular therapy for the relief of pain and the healing of disease.

With auricular therapy, clients are able to find out what is wrong with their body, way before signs show up on a typical physical or blood test. Whereas a physical exam or blood test is unable to treat abnormal readings, auricular therapy is able to treat even slight abnormalities. That's the sheer beauty of natural health care - actually treating abnormalities before they progressively worsen.

 What is Auricular Therapy?

Auricular therapy is integrates Western and Chinese theories of health as balance and equilibrium. The use of the ear is based on the rich and the multiple connections which it has on the central nervous system. The shape of the body is projected into the ear and every point of the body corresponds to a point of the ear. In a healthy person the link is not apparent but when there is an imbalance of the physiological equilibrium it's point of projection in the ear becomes painful. The therapist then stimulates the painful points of the ear by massage or cauterization.

What are the benefits of Auricular Therap

• Activates the meridian which regulates energy flow
• Stimulates the internal organs
• Improves the circulation in general
• Induces deep relaxation
• Stimulates the brain
• Improves the immune system as prevention measure
  

 AURICULAR MEDICINE

Auricular medicine is a highly effective system for analyzing areas of problems, and treating the entire body from the external ear.  It uses filters to determine the phases of healing the body is in and corresponding filters for tissue pathology or repair. This mode of treatment using Single Channel testing (GSR) is currently being use by over 20,000 MD’s in Germany alone.  Auricular Medicine is virtually unknown in the US but due to its overall success it is rapidly becoming a mode of choice and integrated practice.

Reference Books on Auriculotherapy

Bourdiol R (1982) Elements of auriculotherapy. Moulins-les- Metz , Maisonneuve.

Chen K, Cui Y (1991) Handbook to Chinese auricular therapy. Beijing , Foreign Languages Press.

Huang L (1996) Auriculotherapy diagnosis and treatment. Bellaire , TX , Longevity Press.

Huang L (1999) Auricular diagnosis. Bellaire , TX , Longevity Press.

Nogier P (1968) Handbook to auriculotherapy. Moulins-les- Metz , Maisonneuve.

Nogier P (1972) Treatise of auriculotherapy. Moulins-les- Metz , Maisonneuve.

Nogier P (1983) From auriculotherapy to auriculomedicine. Moulins-les- Metz , Maisonneuve.

Nogier P, Nogier R (1985) The man in the ear. Moulins-les- Metz , Maisonneuve.

Nogier P, Petitjean F, Mallard A (1987) Points réflexes auriculaires. Moulins-les- Metz , Maisonneuve.

Nogier P, Petitjean F, Mallard A (1989) Compléments des points réflexes auriculaires. Moulins-les- Metz , Maisonneuve.

Nogier R (1993) Introduction Practique a l’Auriculomedecine. Heidelberg , Haug.

Oleson T (1995) International handbook of ear reflex points. Los Angeles , CA , Health Care Alternatives.

Shan Q, Lu M, Xiao F (1996) Auricular point-pressing therapy. Jinan , China , Shandong Science and Technology Press.

Strittmatter B (1998) Das storfeld in diagnostik und therapie. Stuttgart , Hippokrates.

Weintraub M, ed. (2001) Alternative and complementary treatment in neurologic illness. Philadelphia , Churchill Livingstone.

Woo PJ (1998) Omni Auricular Therapy Moscow , Su Jok Academy.

(Text excerpts taken with permission from Terry Oleson, Ph.D., at www.auriculotherapy.com)