Auriculotherapy

The good folks at Miridia Technology do excellent client education.  Here is a reprint from their Auriculotherapy series.

What is Auriculotherapy?

Auriculotherapy gets its name from the "Auricle" which is the anatomic name for the external ear.

Auriculotherapy techniques use special locations, or points, on the skin of the ear to diagnose and treat pain and medical conditions of the body. This method is used world wide by tens of thousands of practitioners to bring effective relief for a wide variety of conditions, including pain, dysfunction, injuries, addictions, and internal disorders.

Depending on the country and practitioner, Auriculotherapy is sometimes also referred to as Auricular Medicine, or Auricular Acupuncture.  Whether used in conjunction with another treatment or by itself, auriculotherapy is often effective when other treatments have failed, or in conjunction with other treatment types. Best of all, auriculotherapy is safe, non-invasive and has no side effects.

Where did it come from?

Auriculotherapy has been used as a form of health care for thousands of years all over the world. Ancient records from China, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia all indicate treatments applied to the ear for a variety of problems. In fact, the world-wide custom of wearing decorative ear rings may have originated as an early form of auricular health care.

Modern auriculotherapy got its start in the early 1950's when a French neurologist named Dr. Paul Nogier observed the occurrence of scars on the ears of patients who were successfully treated by French lay practitioners for back pain. He investigated these ear scars and found this type of treatment had a very high success rate.

Dr. Nogier then spent his career researching and developing the map of reflex points on the ear, based upon the concept of an Inverted Fetus arrangement. He eventually discovered over 200 auricular points and their corresponding effects.

Today Auriculotherapy research continues, with major advancements in the study and placement of ear reflex points, as well as scientific documentation of this technique's effectiveness. Auriculotherapy is now accepted worldwide as a valuable and effective procedure for many conditions.

Facts about Auriculotherapy

As research has uncovered more information about this amazing therapy, certain interesting facts have emerged. Let's look at a few examples:

Stimulation of certain points on the ear changes the cardiac pulse within a few seconds.
Auriculotherapy tends to not only eliminate pain, but also stimulate healing of the affected body part.
It is possible to locate problems in the body with up to 75% accuracy, merely by examining the ear.
Experienced practitioners report an 86% success rate using auriculotherapy to help patients quit smoking.
Auriculotherapy treatment for drug addiction provides a substantially lower relapse rate than non-auricular addiction treatments.

Auriculotherapy is a natural complement to many types of healthcare, including acupuncture, chiropractic, western medicine, naturopathy, physical therapy and even psychotherapy. Auriculotherapy is often helpful for many health conditions, both physical and mental and nearly any body part can be treated from the ear.

Some of the most successful uses of Auriculotherapy include the areas of addiction, pain management, musculoskeletal injuries, mental health, and internal disorders, though it has been successfully applied to nearly any problem imaginable. Published protocols are available for several hundred specific problems.

What should I expect?

Your auriculotherapy treatment will begin with your practitioner's examination of one or both of your ears. Examination techniques include probing for tender areas or testing with an electronic device. Specific charts of common points related to your condition will likely also be consulted and compared with your exam findings.
When your practitioner has identified the reflex points applicable to your condition, treatment will begin.

Possible treatment techniques, include acupressure, acupuncture with tiny needles, laser stimulation, electrical stimulation, colored light therapy, or even heat therapy. Most types of treatment are relatively comfortable and brief. If your practitioner opts to use acupuncture needles, they will be small, sterile, and usually painless.
Regardless of the treatment technique used, auriculotherapy is extremely safe and natural. The only known side effects of auriculotherapy are all positive and include enhanced mood, better sleep, and even decreases in non-related symptoms.

Auriculotherapy treatment often takes effect within a few seconds or minutes, and may be effective for days, weeks, or even longer. Some conditions may respond to only one treatment, while others may require multiple treatments. Your practitioner will give you a better idea of how many treatments are expected for your particular condition.

Your practitioner may also attach temporary beads or tacks to your ear to provide continued stimulation over the course of several days. If so, you'll be given specific instructions about how to use these items and when to remove them.

How can I get more information?

Call Vahila Acupuncture and Massage Therapy at 330-477-0777

Headaches: Acupuncture With Meds

Results of a published British study show that acupuncture combined with drugs works better than conventional medical treatment alone to treat chronic headaches, many of which are migraines. 

Researchers tested 401 patients who reported having headaches several days every week. 

They found that those who received the combination of acupuncture plus drugs reported fewer and less-intense headaches than those who were given drug treatment only. Those who participated in the acupuncture group had up to 12 treatments over three months.

At the end of the study, researchers noted that the patients who had acupuncture claimed 22 fewer days of headaches per year, used 15-percent less medication, made 25-percent fewer visits to their doctors, and lost fewer work days than the other group.

Results of the research were published in the March 15, 2004, online issue of the British Medical Journal. 

We use a multi-faceted approach to headaches using acupuncture, massage therapy and patient education.  For evaluation and treatment call 330-477-0777.

Auricular Therapy and Addiction

Due to popular demand, the following is a reprint of a post I made 3 years ago.

The use of auricular therapy for treating drug withdrawal began in Hong Kong in 1972. Dr. Wen, a neurosurgeon, made a discovery “by accident”. He was doing surgery and administering auricular acupuncture anesthesia to a patient that happened to be a heroin addict in the midst of withdrawal symptoms. The patient had relief of his withdrawal symptoms following the procedure. Further studies were done to confirm that specific points on the ear could reduce cravings for opiates.

Research shows that acupuncture stimulates the production of endorphins, the body’s natural opiates. This would explain why treatments stimulating acupuncture points of the ear would reduce cravings. If the body is producing opiates, patients don’t need to seek them from the outside.

In 1973, Dr. Michael Smith was working out of the Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx, operating a standard drug detox program. Seeking to improve results, he experimented with different auricular treatments. His research with auricular treatment greatly enhanced patient results. Due to the success of adding auricular treatment to the existing program, he founded the National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA). NADA teaches a 5 point protocol to specialists in the detox profession.

Other examples of the success of auricular therapy include Hooper Memorial Detox Center in Portland, Oregon. In 1987, they implemented auricular acupuncture in their 5 day alcohol detox program. Clients using the auricular therapy were 6 times less likely to return in 6 months than clients who did not have auricular therapy. Overall completion rate also increased from 60% to 92% with the addition of auricular therapy. (Lane, 1988)

On the other side of the country, a clinical program for substance abuse sponsored by the Jersey City Dept. of Health reported the following results using auricular therapy: 84% improvement in mood, 81% improvement in withdrawal symptoms, 93% reduction in cravings and 70% improvement in overall wellness.

So how can massage therapists and others use this information to help their patients? Remember: acupressure is another way to stimulate acupuncture points. Acupressure can be applied with the fingers by compressing the point between two fingers and kneading, or with a 1 mm tip probe for precise point massage. Massage for 10 to 30 seconds with firm, but tolerable, pressure. Also, acupressure pellets can be placed in the ear for continued stimulation and pressed by the patient for self-treatment. Pellets should be removed by the patient in 3 to 5 days.

By the way, don’t feel that you’re doing second rate treatment by using acupressure pellets instead of needles. Pellets are the most common form of auricular treatment in China.

Is this in a massage therapists scope of practice? Yes. As an acupuncturist and LMT, I see many people who still feel the need for more support than they get from their other treatments. Adding this protocol to your massage sessions could provide another dimension of relief for those dealing with addictions, whether it’s alcohol, cigarettes, food or drugs. Also, as massage therapists, we are not treating the addiction. We’re treating the patient to help relieve the stress and physical discomfort associated with the addiction.

Obviously, massage is one of the best treatments for stress reduction and to help people feel more grounded in their bodies. Adding this reflex treatment of the ear simply takes advantage of information gleaned from other sources and allows a massage therapist to enhance their results.

This auricular stimulation is intended to enhance, not replace, conventional medical treatment for addictions. The NADA protocol was added to existing programs that included, 12-step meetings, individual counseling, appropriate medications, etc.

The points Dr. Smith found most useful for substance abuse were: Shen Men, Kidney, Liver, Lung and Sympathetic Nerve. These points can be easily found on ear models labeled for auricular therapy. They help calm the mind while supporting the detoxification of the body.

While there are other protocols more specific to smoking, food, and other addictions, the NADA protocol is a good general treatment if a therapist has limited training in auricular therapy.

You can easily integrate this into your general massage sessions when massaging the ear. If you choose to do point massage and acupressure pellets, it’s wise to spend some time educating your patient regarding the more specific nature of this technique.

Auricular Therapy

The good folks at Miridia Technology have produce a very informative video on Auricular Therapy. I've been using Auricular Therapy in my practice for over 10 years with excellent results. To learn more, click on the video. Enjoy!