Introduction
Auriculotherapy is a microsystem that uses the stimulation of sensitive points on the ear to treat problems of the entire body. It can treat problems of the entire body and has proven to be an important aid in cases of acute pain (such as a kidney colic) or in stubborn chronic pain (shoulder pain), it is also very widely used to treat addictions (tobacco, bulimia). It also gives good results in relieving anxiety and pruritus problems (itching). Auriculotherapy can be used alone as a treatment or it can be used as reinforcement after an acupuncture session, when the patient cannot come to the clinic often.
The points are selected according to criteria of traditional Chinese medicine (balance of the zang fu), in combination with criteria of Western medicine of the affected regions.
The auricular points can be stimulated with acupuncture needles or with electrostimulation in a session. A semipermanent stimulus can also be used for several days with ASP needles, pyonex, studs, magnets (which may have gold or silver coating) or vaccaria seeds. There is infection risk when leaving a needle in place for several days so it is important to take care with hygiene.
Anatomy of the auricle
Auriculotherapy points
- Master Points.
- Points of the head and face.
- Points of the musculoskeletal system.
- Points of the cardiorespiratory system.
- Points of the digestive system.
- Points of the urogenital and reproductive system.
- Points of the endocrine system.
- Points for functional disorders.
Treatments
Go to Auriculotherapy treatments.
Mappings
The stimulation of the ear with therapeutic applications is already mentioned in classic Chinese texts such as the Huang Di Nei Jing. In the 1950s and 60s, French physician Paul Nogier conducted research on auriculotherapy and developed an ear mapping in which the zones of the ear corresponded to parts of the body as if the ear were an inverted fetus. Many of the points of French auriculotherapy correspond to the classic Chinese mapping, but they discovered many other points that differ. In his research, Nogier later developed the model of the auricular phases: the coexistence of several superimposed mappings, related to the development of the three embryological tissues. According to the phases, the spine can be located in the antihelix, in the tragus or in the crest of the concha.
We have used for the images points of the classic Chinese auriculotherapy plus some points of the French mapping. There are many different mappings and different names for the points, not therefore incorrect. We invite you to interpret the images with flexibility.
Bibliography
Oleson. Auriculotherapy. Chinese and Western systems of ear acupuncture.