Auricular is a microsystem of acupuncture in which the ears are used to treat health conditions that exist elsewhere in the body. Auricular acupuncture was developed in 1957 by French physician, Paul Nogier. Dr. Nogier created the concept that a map of the human body correlates with an illustration of an inverted fetus over the ear. After Nogier's concepts were published in a medical journal, his theory soon spread through Japan and China and eventually made their way into the United States. Although studies have since been conducted to verify the efficacy of auricular acupuncture, and stimulating specific auricular points may help with weight loss, there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.
Consult with a licensed acupuncturist prior to using auricular for weight loss.
Shenmen Point
Shenmen is a commonly used auricular acupuncture point that is located in the triangular fossa of your ear. It is considered the Chinese "heavenly gate" point and is employed to treat a variety of different health conditions in Chinese medicine. According to the Medical Acupuncture Journal, although this point is commonly used for pain relief, it can also help treat psychoemotional symptoms including fear, apprehension and anxiety. Shenmen is also employed to regulate the sympathetic nervous system. A study published in the 1998 issue of Australian Family Physician found that frequent stimulation of shenmen, in combination with the stomach auricular point, helped reduce the appetite of study subjects, which led to weight loss.
Stomach Point
When acupuncturists stimulate the auricular stomach point, it increases serotonin levels via the vagal nerve according to PubMed. This stimulation can help increase stomach smooth muscle tone, which leads to appetite suppression. According to the American Family Physician study previously mentioned, frequent stimulation of the auricular stomach point in conjunction with shenmen resulted in a significantly higher mean weight loss for study subjects compared to control subjects who did not receive auricular acupuncture.
Mouth Point
The auricular mouth point is another commonly used point for weight loss. A study performed in 2001 and published in Medical Acupuncture found that stimulation of the mouth auricular point in conjunction with 4 other points, including shenmen and stomach, resulted in higher mean weight loss compared with subjects who did not receive auricular. Obese female subjects received weekly auricular acupuncture combined with increased physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet. In addition to experiencing a higher level of weight loss, auricular subjects also reported a sensation of decreased appetite during the study.
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