Ear Magnets To Lose Weight

Ear magnets are one among many weight-loss tools on the market that claim to work according to the principles of acupressure. Treating acupoints on the ear for a variety of ailments has a longstanding history in the West because of the pressure point mapping efforts of Dr. Paul Nogier, a French physician who learned of the traditional Chinese medical technique in the mid-20th century. Ear magnets are not a replacement for a healthy diet and exercise plan.

Theory

One of the main concepts behind ear therapy --- also called "auriculotherapy" --- is that the ear resembles an image of an inverted human fetus. Auriculotherapy maps each part of the body onto the ear, according to the website Auriculotherapy. The head aligns with the harder cartilage just above the earlobe, while the spine and legs follow the curve of cartilage up to the top of the ear. Key points on this ear map, when stimulated with needles, heat or pressure, are said to create a healing response in the corresponding organ, system or area.

Alternatives

Magnets are among the many tools that auriculotherapists use to stimulate key points on the ear. Ear needles, the seeds of certain plants and metal pellets are all part of the auriculotherapist's toolkit for treating obesity-related illnesses like diabetes, according to Bob Flaws, doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, and co-author of "The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus with Chinese Medicine."

Underlying Causes

In TCM, weight gain is one symptom of a complex underlying condition called "dampness." People who suffer from dampness also are likely to experience sluggish energy and a feeling of distention or heaviness, especially in the abdomen, according to the website Acupuncture Today. Ear magnets might help you become more disposed to losing weight, but you can help speed the process by avoiding the habits that create dampness: worry and overwork, especially harsh analytical thought. Avoid milk products and raw or cold food. Choose warming foods like cinnamon, ginger, adzuki beans and turnips.

Research

Magnetic bead acupressure proved more effective than counseling but less effective than ear seed acupressure for moderate weight loss, according to a 2010 study published in the "American Journal of Chinese Medicine" by Ching Hsieh of the Chang Gung Institue of Technology in Taiwan. While participants who received counseling alone gained weight, those using magnetic beads lost 0.7 body mass index points. Those who wore the seeds of the vaccaria plant, a natural remedy in TCM, lost almost twice as much as ear magnet users.

Considerations

In the world of acupressure and acupuncture, Dr. Nogier's auriculotherapy and the use of magnets for acupressure stimulation are relatively new. A seasoned acupuncturist or acupressure therapist draws on thousands of years of traditional knowledge to diagnose you and decide on a course of treatment. He will typically stimulate points all over your body, not just on the ears, in order to create a healing effect. While you can purchase ear magnets for personal use, a professional can tell you if they will be effective in your case and help you place them correctly.