What is Auriculotherapy?
Auriculotherapy, also named auricular acupuncture or ear acupuncture, is the practice of stimulating points in the ears to treat corresponding parts of the body. 
While observed in China and ancient Greece about 2,000 years ago, ear acupuncture was rigorously tested by French physician Dr. Paul Nogier 40 years ago and is now commonplace in the clinical setting.
In Auriculotherapy, the ear represents a fetus in the womb in an inverted position and can be mapped to the entire human body. Therapy techniques include the use of needles, herb-seeds, or magnets, which are inserted or put onto certain points on the human ear for the purpose of treating diseases. There are more than 300 points in the ear, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, digestive disturbances, obesity, and addiction withdrawal.
Ear Seeds, Magnets, and Pellets
Ear seeds, magnets, and pellets help prolong the treatment after the patient leaves the practitioner office by allowing the energetic pathways to remain open.
An ear seed is a tiny radish seed that is attached to an adhesive square, which is put and pressed in place at the acupuncture point. Patients can push on the seeds when they feel the symptoms. This is helpful when dealing with addictions, weight loss, and chronic pain.
Similarly, tiny magnetic, as well as non-magnetic, metal balls can be used individually or in combination to stimulate certain acu-points on the body. Although commonly used in auriculotherapy, this technique can also be applied to other parts of the body. In cases when the stimulus becomes too strong for the patient during nighttime, magnets need to be removed at bedtime.
Ear Tacks
Tacks are another modality that is somewhat similar to seeds and pellets as they are affixed with adhesive tape to the ear. However, because ear tacks pierce the skin, they should only be retained for a limited amount of time so that infection does not occur. The typical retention time is theoretically 3 to 5 days. Because of their strong stimulus, a few hours to a day may be all that the patient can tolerate. Tacks come in different sizes with larger tacks providing stronger stimulus. Proper size can be selected to be comfortable for the patient while offering a suitable stimulus. Exposure to water through swimming, bathing, or high humidity levels can increase the risk of infection and should be avoided.
What conditions can be treated with Auriculotherapy?
Auriculotherapy can be used to treat painful disorders such as sprains, headaches, and neuropathic pains, as well as inflammatory and infectious diseases such as acute and chronic colitis, periodontitis, laryngopharyngitis, tonsillitis, cholecystitis, influenza, whooping cough, bacillary dysentery and mumps.
Auriculotherapy can treat functional disorders and allergic diseases such as dizziness, hypertension, arrhythmia, stress, depression, hives, asthma, rhinitis and purpura. It may be used to treat endocrinal and metabolic disorders such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, diabetes, obesity and menopausal symptoms. It can also be used on conditions such as agalactia, prolonged labor, anaphylactic reactions to transfusions and infusions, beauty therapy, smoking and drug addictions, anti-aging and disease prevention.
The information provided on this site is for reference only and should not be taken as medical recommendations or professional guidance.