Abstract
Auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture, auricular therapy) is one of the many forms of acupuncture, and is a distinctive part of Chinese medicine that has been practiced in China for thousands of years. It is one of the most effective methods of pain treatment that has withstood the test of time.
It is employed in the treatment of pain and certain diseases by placing fine needles in specifically designated “puncture points” on the external ear.
External auricular changes such as discoloration, tenderness, decreased electrical resistance in the corresponding meridian pathway within the ear, and even mild morphological changes (scarring) over time can be utilized in the detection of corresponding internal organ or systemic disease, the so-called “Auricular Diagnosis”.
The development of acupuncture anesthesia was also based on the analgesic effects on the corresponding internal organs and even whole body systems by stimulating the corresponding area of the auricle.
The ear is mostly composed of cartilage and connective tissue with a minimal amount of adipose tissue, yet it is supplied with numerous nerves near the skin surface. Thus it is often more painful to have needles inserted in the ear than it is in the body.
Unlike body acupuncture points, the auricular points were named according to the corresponding parts of the organ or body system (i.e., lung, heart, stomach, endocrine, etc.). Auricular points can be depicted as a homunculus such as an upside-down fetus. Treatment can be performed with standard acupuncture needles, press needle, or acupressure (not as effective as needling).
Other modalities: Electrical stimulation, laser and ultrasound techniques have also been used effectively on auricular points.
There are no major adverse effects for auricular acupuncture. Auricular therapy is a simple, economical, and effective method for the treatment of various ailments (but especially for pain management) with broad indication.
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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Sung, YF. (2014). Auricular Acupuncture. In: Lin, YC., Hsu, EZ. (eds) Acupuncture for Pain Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5275-1_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5275-1_8
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