Acupuncturists may practice acupuncture of the ears, or auricular therapy, to relieve several illnesses that occur throughout the body. By inserting needles or applying other instruments to certain points on the ear called meridians, practitioners seek to influence the flow of life energy -- known to the Chinese as "chi" or "qi" -- to restore the body's balance and promote healing.
Principles
All acupuncture techniques rely on the Chinese principle of chi or qi. These terms refer to the flow of life energy throughout the body. Chinese practitioners believed that when interruptions occurred along this energy flow's regular patterns, a wide range of illnesses could result, depending on the interruption's exact point. Many tiny points called meridians lie along the main routes of energy flow; by inserting needles precisely into these points, an acupuncturist aims to redirect or restore a healthy energy balance. The ear has 40 meridian points, according to the American Acupuncture website.
Meridians
Meridians that dot the outer ear cover the vast majority of the ear’s surface area, extending from the top of the ear to the bottom of the earlobe. Meridians one through nine take up the entire earlobe and correspond with areas of the face including the eyes, tonsils, jaw and mouth, though acupuncturists also use meridian 26, the ear's center, to treat toothaches. Meridians 10 through 16, toward the top of the ear, generally correspond with ailments of the arms and legs, while higher-numbered meridians -- clustered toward the ear's center -- conduct energy flow to the vital organs, neck and glands.
Process
A trained acupuncturist knows how and where to insert one or more long, thin needles into specific ear meridians to treat musculoskeletal, neurological, psychological or reproductive ailments. Needles typically remain in place for up to 30 minutes, with or without the assistance of electrical stimulation, according to Energy Medicine Solutions. In some cases, the acupuncturist may tape seeds or beads onto the meridians so that stimulation from the treatment can continue for several hours following the office visit.
History
Although the ancient Chinese and Greeks used a form of ear acupuncture, the modern practice developed in France in the 1950s. According to Dr. L.B. Grotte, a physician named Dr. Paul Nogier took note of the fact that folk practitioners used cauterization, or burning, of the ear to cure back pain. The apparent relationship between these two body parts inspired Nogier to discover and map out various ear meridians. Today’s acupuncturists continue to use his map in their work, though in addition to needles, they may opt to stimulate meridians with magnets, taped products, electricity or lasers.
