Ear acupuncture, also known as auriculotherapy, is a treatment that is widely used in addition to whole-body acupuncture.
Inside the ear, there are a number of different acupuncture points that correspond with specific organs and body systems. As such, auriculotherapy is used to treat a variety of conditions occurring anywhere in the body, not just the ear and head. Stimulating the ear points sends energy (qi) along the pathways to the meridians throughout the body, which in turn resolves qi blockages. Removing the blockages is what helps to heal existing conditions as well as prevent new ones from occurring. This is due to the fact that the nerves in the ear connect with our internal organs and run all throughout the body. The ears also feature a lot of blood vessels. When nerves are stimulated during auriculotherapy, signals are sent to the central nervous system and peripheral blood flow is improved, allowing more nutrients and oxygen to move throughout the body. Similar to acupuncture treatment in other areas of the body, auriculotherapy also elevates endorphins and enkephalins.
Auriculotherapy is effective as a standalone treatment, but it can also be used in combination with full-body acupuncture to improve treatment results. In addition to prompting the body to heal itself, ear acupuncture can help patients feel calm, relaxed, and with decreased pain. There are five main points of auricular acupuncture:
❇️ Autonomic Point: Calms the nervous system and promotes relaxation
❇️ Kidney Point: Heals internal organs and calms fears
❇️ Liver Point: Detoxifies and purifies the blood
❇️ Lung Point: Promotes breathing
❇️ Shen Men: Reduces nervousness and anxiety
Auriculotherapy is also known to benefit hormonal imbalances, skin conditions, musculoskeletal conditions, insomnia, digestive disorders, asthma, allergies, depression, anxiety, stress, and addictions.