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Locate and treat ear acupuncture points for hundreds of common conditions from home
How to Treat
Learn how to get started with ear acupuncture, even if you're not a practitioner
How to Treat
What is Ear Acupuncture?
Ear Acupuncture, or auriculotherapy is the technique of using points on the skin of the auricle (external ear) to diagnose and treat pain and medical conditions of the body. Also referred to as auricular medicine, auricular therapy and sometimes auricular acupuncture, practitioners all over the world use this therapy to treat pain, dysfunction, addictions and internal disorders with excellent results. Whether used in conjunction with another treatment or by itself, auriculotherapy is often effective when other treatments have failed. Best of all, it is safe, non-invasive and has no known side effects.
Ear acupuncture has been used as a form of health care for thousands of years in multiple countries worldwide. Ear acupuncture is a natural complement to many types of healthcare practice, including acupuncture, chiropractic, western allopathic medicine, naturopathy, physical therapy and psychotherapy. It offers the advantages of being relatively easy to learn, quick in practical application, and helpful for many health conditions, both physical and mental.
Plus, even if you’re not a practitioner, you can still use ear acupuncture on yourself using non-needle techniques like ear seeds to stimulate ear acupuncture points.
How to Treat with Ear Acupuncture
STEP 1: Choose the Right Points
The starting point to treat any condition with ear acupuncture is to know which acupuncture points on the surface of the ear are applicable to the condition you are treating. Because there are literally hundreds of points on the ear, each with a different purpose, finding precisely the right points is a must. A high-quality chart or software program will be your best tool for finding the right points.
STEP 2: Treat the Points
Once you know which points to use, you’ll need to stimulate, or treat the points. Fortunately, needles are NOT required for effective treatment. Great results can be obtained by employing simple tools like an ear probe that applies manual pressure, ear seeds or advanced devices that stimulate the points with microcurrent electricity, though these devices are only recommended for practitioners.
Ear Acupuncture Tools
Conditions Library
Check out our library of ear acupuncture protocols for many common conditions. You can treat yourself with the Auriculo 360 reference app and Auriculo 360 brand ear seeds right from the comfort of your own home!
ANXIETY
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BACK PAIN
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INSOMNIA
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MIGRAINES
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HEADACHES
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ALLERGY
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STOP SMOKING
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ASTHMA
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WEIGHT CONTROL
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IMMUNITY
SEE THE PROTOCOL >>Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ear Acupuncture & Auriculotherapy the same thing?
Yes! Ear acupuncture, auriculotherapy, auricular acupuncture, auricular therapy, auricular medicine—this powerful healing system is known by many names! “Ear Acupuncture” is perhaps the most widely understood and accessible term. That’s why we’ll use it here.
Is Ear Acupuncture effective?
Absolutely. Countless studies point to the efficacy of auriculotherapy—especially when combined with other treatments. It offers the advantages of being relatively easy to learn, quick in practical application, and helpful for many health conditions, both physical and mental.
Because any body part can be treated from the ear, even inaccessible body parts can be effectively addressed. For example, imagine your arm is in a cast. Conventional acupuncture, massage and chiropractic techniques can’t directly address the casted arm—but ear acupuncture can!
Here’s an interesting fact: thanks to the efforts of retired Col. Richard C. Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH, the U.S. military has taken an increased interest in ear acupuncture for rapid pain relief in emergency situations. Increasing numbers of military doctors are now trained and using this ear acupuncture technique, and ongoing scientific studies are investigating its applications.
Where did Ear Acupuncture come from?
Ear Acupuncture (Auriculotherapy) has been used as a form of health care for thousands of years in multiple countries worldwide. Ancient records from China, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia all indicate its use for a variety of problems. Whether the custom of wearing ear rings originated as a form of decoration or a form of health care is still an interesting and open question. In the 1950s, Dr. Paul Nogier, a neurologist from Lyon, France, observed that patients were effectively relieved of sciatica pain when their ears were cauterized on specific points. His curious investigation of this phenomena led him to develop the “inverted fetus” model of the ear. He eventually discovered over 200 auricular points. His work was first presented in France, then communicated to a German acupuncture society, and finally was translated into Chinese. Auriculotherapy is a natural complement to many types of healthcare practice, including acupuncture, chiropractic, western allopathic medicine, naturopathy, physical therapy and psychotherapy.
Do I need a license to practice Ear Acupuncture?
Here in the United States, each state is responsible for setting licensing rules for acupuncture practice, and the states all vary slightly in licensing requirements. Similarly, auriculotherapy is regulated slightly differently in each of the states. Some states may require specific training and credentials, while others do not. Types of treatment applied many also be differently regulated. For example, non-invasive treatment with electrical stimulation may be open to anyone, whereas needle insertion may only be allowed with proper licensure.
I'm a hobbyist. How should I treat myself and my family?
If you are only seeking to treat yourself and/or spouse and/or children, you are free to use noninvasive auriculotherapy techniques in your own home. And with a little bit of training and the right tools and resources, you can learn to do so safely and effectively! That’s why we’re here.
You’ll need:
- A good reference tool
- A way to locate active points
- A noninvasive way to treat points
To most effectively help treat yourself and your friends/family, you’ll need to get a high quality, accurate chart of the acupuncture points on the ear. We have a couple of great options for you: The first is our deluxe, double-sided reference card with over 270 ear acupuncture points carefully illustrated in full color. The other is the Auriculo 360 auriculotherapy reference app that has over 300 points and 180 protocols for common conditions, as well as a live, 3D ear so you can see EXACTLY where each point is. Both of these reference tools were developed by licensed acupuncturists for consumers and practitioners alike.
You’ll also need a way to stimulate the acupuncture points. We recommend a manual ear probe and Auriculo 360 brand ear seeds for home users. With these tools, you can apply acupressure to the point, and place an ear seed (a seed stuck to strong tape) to the point to keep it stimulated for several days.
I'm a practitioner. What tools do I need to be successful with Ear Acupuncture?
If you’re a practitioner seeking to add Ear Acupuncture to your arsenal of treatment techniques, bravo! Ear Acupuncture (Auriculotherapy) is a natural complement to many types of healthcare practice, including acupuncture, chiropractic, western allopathic medicine, naturopathy, physical therapy and psychotherapy.
In general, we have found that practitioners do much better when they have these three things:
- An accurate reference tool
- A reliable way to locate electrically active points
- An effective way to treat points
We can help you with all three of these things! In addition to the information on this site, we have a full selection of tools and training that will help you establish yourself in the field of auricular medicine and become a confident auriculotherapist.
See our Auriculotherapy Tools & Training Here >>
Here’s some specific tool recommendations:
The first is our deluxe, double-sided reference card with over 270 ear acupuncture points carefully illustrated in full color. The other is the Auriculo 360 auriculotherapy reference app that has over 300 points and 180 protocols for common conditions, as well as a live, 3D ear so you can see EXACTLY where each point is. Both of these reference tools were developed by licensed acupuncturists to help practitioners get the most out of their auriculotherapy treatments.
You’ll also need a way to locate and stimulate the acupuncture points. We recommend the Pointoselect Digital point location and treatment device.The Pointoselect Digital combines positive and negative point detection, advanced treatment protocols, and popular preset frequencies in one powerful device. It’s everything you need for effective, convenient body and ear point treatment!
The Pointoselect Digital has all the flexibility you need for advanced auricular work. Bipolar point detection with adjustable sensitivity ensures you’ll find precisely the right point, whether it has positive or negative polarity. Treatment is just as flexible, giving you ultimate control over intensity, frequency, even pulse-width.
Where can I get more information about Ear Acupuncture?
In addition to the information on this site, we offer a selection of tools and training that will help you become more confident in your knowledge and application of ear acupuncture.
What are the most popular conditions to treat with Ear Acupuncture?
Some of the most popular applications of ear acupuncture include:
- ear acupuncture for migraines
- ear acupuncture for headaches
- ear acupuncture for addiction
- ear acupuncture for excess weight
- ear acupuncture for anxiety
- ear acupuncture for asthma
- ear acupuncture for allergies
- ear acupuncture for immune support
- ear acupuncture for insomnia
- ear acupuncture for back pain
But there are COUNTLESS ways to use ear acupuncture to improve your health and vitality. Check out our blog to find out all the amazing things that “ear acupuncture is for!”