Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Orlando has provided people unique and various ways of treating a specific disease. These ways do not involve the use of any drugs, are painless, safe, and natural. For TCM practitioners, a healthy body is achieved by maintaining a fine balance with the environment via the exchange of energy called qi or chi. Positive chi constantly moves within the body and takes out the negative chi. The entire system of the body functions for this exchange just to maintain balance. Auricular acupuncture is one such method.
A part of TCM, auricular acupuncture uses the outer ear to treat a wide range of illnesses affecting the head area and body. The auricle, which is the outer ear, is seen as an entire system that governs major activities of the ear and the other organs of the body. The auricle consists of a number of acupuncture points which are affiliated in some way with the entire body. Ultra fine needles are inserted into the auricular acupuncture points stimulating the points and creating neural signals that reaches the brain to activate the organ targeted by the treatment. This activation raises the function of that organ causing the release of toxins, and increasing microcirculation and muscle movement.
Auricular acupuncture works based on three TCM theories:
1. The meridian concept: This theory is widely accepted in Chinese medicine. According to this concept, energy moves via fixed energy channels named meridians. The underlying cause of any disease can be traced to any obstruction in these channels. The stimulation of auricular acupoints provides therapeutic resolution on the meridians.
2. Delta reflex: According to this theory, auricular point stimulation leads to stimulation of the corresponding body part. This results in a rise in temperature of that body part and similarly, an increase in temperature of that body part also increases the temperature of the auricular part.
3. Anatomical model: This theory states that the position of the auricular points on the outer ear resembles that of an inverted fetus. Whatever signals are exchanged with the body parts are also sent back to the auricle which makes for a bidirectional movement.
The West has adopted the Chinese principles and method and has come up with similar methods of their own with a few changes in the form of improvements. While needling auricular acupuncture is a process that originated in China, the West has developed it in the form of auriculotherapy, which makes use of modern technologies to activate the ear acupoints. Instead of using needles, auriculotherapy uses electricity, pressure pellets, magnets, laser, etc. Neurologist Paul Nogier is the Frenchman who developed this modern form of ear acupuncture.
Auricular acupuncture can be used to treat various ailments affecting the body as it uses ear acupoints that’s connected to the entire body. It balances the emotional and mental aspects of a person helping reduce insomnia, stress, depression, and anxiety. It can also relieve various kinds of physical pain such as muscle tension, migraines, headaches, back aches, and arthritis. Its association with the respiratory and digestive systems aids in resolving constipation, bronchitis, asthma, colitis, indigestion, etc. It is extremely useful for curing drinking and smoking habits, and keeps the balance in menstrual periods in women.
Auricular acupuncture should only be performed by a special class of acupuncturists who have knowledge of the ear muscles. They should have total understanding of the over 200 acupoints situated in the auricle.
One important precaution about this treatment is that the needle should never be stuck into the auditory canal that connects to the inner ear. This may result in permanent loss of hearing to the patient. The treatment is performed on the pinna, which is the fleshy part of the ear.