Ear Acupuncture (also known as Auriculotherapy or Auricular Acupuncture) is the stimulation of acupuncture points on the external ear surface for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions in other areas of the body. The ear is believed to be a microsystem which reflects the human body on its outer portion/surface (auricle).
In acupuncture, the ear is used in preference to the hand or the foot, but the principle of these body parts being microsystems are the same. A tender area in the ear suggest that the corresponding area of the body point needs to be treated and it may also imply that there is an underlying disorder at the corresponding area. For example, if a patient has a stomach-ache, inserting a single needle in the ear’s stomach point may be an appropriate form of treatment.
For smokers and dieters, ear studs can be used as a form of self-help. Every time the patient has a craving for a cigarette or is hungry, the patient simply has to gently massage the ear stud for about ten seconds with his finger until the craving or hunger disappears.
Ear Acupuncture is commonly used to help patients who wish to stop smoking or to lose weight. Particularly for smokers who are desperate to quit, Ear Acupuncture has become very popular.
Ear Acupuncture is also especially useful in the treatment of small children and patients who are squeamish about needles as inserting a single needle in a place they cannot see will minimise the levels of distress.
Although the treatment is perfectly safe for long-term use, the stud itself mush be changed about every four days. This is because, even though the studs are sterile and made of stainless steel, if they stay in over longer periods of time they may act as a focus of infection. To avoid this risk, studs need to be changed regularly. The ear used is alternated to further reduce the risk as well. Patients are warned that in the event of which the ear becomes painful or itchy, they should take the studs out immediately.
The great advantage of ear acupuncture is that they have no side effects. Unlike nicotine chewing gum and appetite suppressants, no drug is entering the patient’s system, so studs can continue to be used for as long as it takes the patient to achieve his goal.
In MEISEIDO, there is a man successfully stopped smoking in six weeks from twenty sticks per day to zero with ear acupuncture and strong determination.
