Certain pressure points on the ear relate to cravings and addictive behaviors, according to the online acupressure resource Acupressure.com. Alternative medicine practitioners and proponents of acupressure believe that ear pressure points may help manage compulsive behaviors such as overeating. Ear pressure points may have therapeutic applications if you have started on a diet and find that your cravings are getting the better of you.
Identification
Ear pressure points and acupressure belong to the family of alternative health procedures known collectively as traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, according to the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine. In TCM, two conflicting yet indivisible forces, yin and yang, populate the body. Yin represents the passive principle; yang constitutes the active principle. TCM practitioners seek to harmonize these two forces in their patients' bodies. An overabundance of yin or yang eventually leads to blockages in the flow of the life force, known as qi, and causes disease. Acupressure uses firm finger pressure on pressure points to release the flow of qi and affect a balance between yin and yang.
Theories/Speculation
According to ChinaDaily.com, ear pressure points can be used to treat addictive behaviors such as overeating, smoking, and drug abuse. Surgeon Yin Lin explains that the area of the ear known as the concha corresponds to the autonomic nervous system, and stimulation of ear pressure points can help to ease addictive behaviors such as overeating or compulsive eating through promoting relaxation and re-establishing the internal balance between yin and yang, which may in turn soothe the cravings often associated with dieting.
Effects
The stimulation of ear pressure points through acupressure interrupts the cycle of compulsive behaviors, including overeating, according to Acupressure.com. TCM practitioners understand compulsive eating and food addiction in the same context of imbalances that can be overcome through the release of inner stress, tension and emotional pain and realignment of qi. Ear pressure point stimulation can also boost will power and self esteem, which in turn may help you adhere to your diet in a more disciplined manner.
Significance
For those who battle weight gain, weight cycling, or just a sweet tooth, following a diet often presents a challenge, especially if they tend to turn to food in stressful situations, or eat emotionally or compulsively. Alternative medical practices such as acupressure and ear pressure point stimulation may offer a new perspective on your cravings, and give you the objective distance you need to follow your diet and achieve your health and weight loss goals.
Considerations
The most vital consideration in acupressure and ear pressure point stimulation is to find a qualified practitioner. Start by asking your own physician or health care practitioner if he or she can recommend someone. According to the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, some conventional health care practitioners are quite knowledgeable about TCM and acupressure and can be valuable resources. Check with your doctor before starting ear pressure point stimulation as a diet support.
