In the late 1950s, Dr. Paul Nogier of Lyon, France, developed the practice of auriculotherapy. According to the auriculotherapy website, Nogier determined the ear represents the body, similar to the hands and feet in reflexology but oriented in reverse. As with reflexology, stimulation of the ear with manual pressure affects other parts of the body. According to Mayo Clinic Nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, ear stapling is loosely based on auricular acupuncture but is unlikely to work.
Procedures
According to Zeratsky, auricular acupuncture practitioners stimulate specific areas on the ear with fine needles and leave them in place for up to one week. The Health Women's Healthy Living Goals states acupuncture practitioners also stimulate other body points and add Chinese herbs to help control appetite.
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners defines ear stapling as the "placement of surgical staples in the external cartilage of the ear for the alleged purpose of assisting in weight loss, smoking cessation, insomnia and other conditions." Practitioners leave the staples in place for several months.
Certification Requirements
Although acupuncturists must be state certified, Health Women's Healthy Living Goals claims that "ear staplers may have little or no training in acupuncture, other than that provided by way of a permit or certificate for ear and body piercing."
In a Shreveport Times interview by Mary Jimenez, Sharon Doyal, LPN, owner of Staples by Sharon in Shreveport stated she underwent training through Oklahoma-based Acu-Staple. The founder and instructor at Acu-Staple, Robin Gibson, is also a nurse. The Acu-Staple website offers "training and certification with a personalized correspondence course."
Claims
Shreveport, Louisiana, KSLA Channel 12 News Reporter Tania Francois also interviewed Doyal, who claimed individuals who undergo stapling "... lose cravings for certain things, sweet chocolates, sodas. They might not crave them as much, or they might not taste as good." She stated the procedure is similar to pierced ears.
The Health Women's Health Living Goals website states that while scientific evidence is nonexistent, practitioners claim that average weight loss is two to five pounds per week.
Risks
Zeratsky claims "puncturing ear cartilage poses a risk of serious infection and permanent disfigurement."
In the Cleveland Clinic Magazine, Tanya Edwards, MD, Medical Director of Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative Medicine warned, "Getting your ear stapled is inviting infection in your cartilage, a very difficult-to-treat area of the body."
The Acu-Staple website acknowledges these risks, "...you will have little chance of the ear becoming infected. Scarring can also occur."
Louisiana Law
In June 2007, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners released its opinion on ear stapling. In its opinion, the board stated that "ear stapling constitutes the practice of acupuncture." In Louisiana, acupuncture is considered the practice of medicine and requires state certification. Due to this fact, only a licensed physician or a certified acupuncturist or acupuncturist's assistant may perform ear stapling.
The board stated that "any individual performing ear stapling without such licensure or certification will be deemed to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of medicine and is subject to injunctive action as well as civil and criminal penalties and fines."
Other Rulings
North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Iowa, Alabama and Wyoming restrict ear stapling to licensed medical providers such as physicians, chiropractors or acupuncturists.
Arkansas and Florida prohibit the practice. Some practitioners in Florida continue to provide it.
Ear stapling is neither approved nor regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency requires all websites advertising the procedure to provide a disclaimer noting the FDA has not evaluated the claims or the procedure.
References
- Auriculotherapy
- Mayo Clinic Website: Ear stapling for weight loss: Does it work?
- Cleveland Clinic Magazine: Get the Staple Remover; Medical experts warn that ear stapling is a dangerous choice for losing weight
- Health Womens Healthy Living Goals: Ear stapling to lose weight
- KSLA Channel 12 News: Ear Stapling: Newest Trend in Weight Loss
- Shreveport Times: Ear Stapling - Latest Fad or Greatest New Health Tool?
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