What is Auricular Acupuncture?
Auricular acupuncture is the stimulation of acupuncture points on the external ear surface. This process involves inserting needles into the respective acupuncture points of the ear. This treatment is used to diagnose and treat health conditions in other areas of the body, corresponding with those specific points on the ear.
Auricular acupuncture is used to improve the body’s flow of vital energy, known as chi or qi, and to restore balance between yin and yang, two opposing but complementary energies, within the internal organs. In traditional Chinese medicine these effects are considered essential to treating disease and achieving health.
There are over 200 acupuncture points on the outer ear, with each named after a particular area of the human anatomy. When the acupuncture point is stimulated it triggers an electrical impulse from the ear, via the brain, to the part of the body being treated.
What can auricular acupuncture be used for?
Ear acupuncture has proven to be an efficient method of treating a wide variety of conditions, from headaches and allergies to addictions and pain disorders.
Some of the disorders which can be treated by auricular acupuncture are:
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Constipation
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Low back pain
- Migraine
- Smoking
- Stress relief
- Weight loss
What does the treatment involve?
The treatment involves the use of very small, discreet needles placed in specific points on the outer ear. Disposable, surgical stainless steel needles are used in this treatment. The needles are inserted millimetres under the skin. For longer lasting treatment and stimulation, acupuncture press needles are used, which consist of a small needle encased in an adhesive plaster.
These needles are left in place and can remain on the ear for anything up to 10 days.
Some treatments, such as for Smoking and weight loss , will need numerous sessions. The amount of sessions will also differ from person to person, depending on the patient’s requirements.