If You’re Having Trouble Sleeping, you Need to Try This.
Tick. Tock. The hours roll away as you stare at the ceiling, thinking about everything you have to do tomorrow. You long for sleep, but it just won’t come. It feels impossible to relax and let your mind rest when you’re so stressed about not being able to fall asleep.
This is the horror of insomnia, and it plagues millions of Americans.
Insomnia can be acute or chronic, and can range from a minor, occasional inconvenience to a life-altering nightmare. It can be difficult to find treatments, and many of the existing options bring concerning side effects along with them.
Luckily, emerging research shows that acupuncture and ear acupuncture specifically can make a big difference in the lives of insomnia sufferers! Acupuncturists have been successfully treating insomnia symptoms for centuries and continue to provide relief. If you’d like to learn more about ear acupuncture before you dig into using it for specific conditions, click here.
Disclaimer: This blog post is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content is for general information purposes only. If you have medical questions or concerns, you should always seek guidance from a licensed practitioner who understands your personal medical history.
What is Ear Acupuncture?
Ear acupuncture is an ancient system of medicine that works with the body’s own healing systems. It’s safe, effective, and free of harmful side effects. During ear acupuncture treatment, acupuncture points on the ear are stimulated with pressure, microcurrent, or light. Best of all, it’s something you can do safely for yourself, right from the comfort of your home.
Below, you can read 4 compelling reasons why it’s worth a try to help with insomnia.
1. Ear Acupuncture has an analgesic (pain relieving) effect on the body.
Acupuncture and ear acupuncture have been shown in multiple studies to activate the release of endogenous opioid peptides in the brain. In simpler terms, acupuncture encourages the brain to release endorphins. Endorphins are often called “happy chemicals” because they help people feel happier, more relaxed, and less stressed. They also powerfully decrease pain.
Insomnia is often related to chronic pain or discomfort that makes it difficult to sleep. For instance, 80% of pregnant women experience insomnia at some point during pregnancy—and often, this is due to discomfort, pain, or inability to get comfortable when trying to fall asleep.
Interestingly, insomnia is also tied to depression. Up to 83% of people who suffer with depression also experience symptoms of insomnia. The natural endorphins released in the brain in response to acupuncture decrease symptoms of depression. This may also encourage restful sleep.
2. Ear Acupuncture can have a sedative effect on the body.
Many acupuncture points and ear acupuncture points are traditionally understood to have a sedative effect on the body when appropriate—encouraging healthy, restful sleep.
Unlike pharmaceutical sedatives, however, acupuncture doesn’t come with a side of drowsiness and other harmful co-effects. Instead, acupuncture works to correct your overall hormone balance—encouraging sleepiness when sleepiness is due, but also boosting energy and mood when appropriate. Different acupuncture and ear acupuncture points are used to bring about different effects, which makes acupuncture a versatile and powerful treatment for a wide range of issues.
An oft described phenomenon among patients who undergo acupuncture treatment is the “acu-nap.” This is a state of blissful, restful sleep (or period between sleep and wakefulness) that many patients experience during or shortly after treatment. Even though patients may feel restful and sleepy during treatment, they often spring up from the table once treatment is completed and go on to have increased energy and wellbeing throughout the day.
Therefore, you don’t have to time your acupuncture treatment for right before bed in order to reap the benefits of its rest-promoting properties. Acupuncture in the morning will often lead to a restful night of sleep—and a series of treatments may correct patterns of sleep disharmony for good!
3. Ear Acupuncture can help with circadian rhythm and sleep cycle.
Emerging evidence suggests that acupuncture and ear acupuncture may help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, also called “biorythmn.” This governing rhythm of hormonal processes has been present in humans since the dawn of our existence, and is deeply connected to natural patterns of temperature, light, behavior and emotion.
In our modern world, this innate, evolutionary cycle is deeply threatened by unnatural exposure to blue light from technology, unceasingly busy schedules, high-stress environments, and hormone-disrupting chemicals in our food, water and environment.
Chinese Medicine is deeply aware of the patterns and seasons of nature, and of the human body, and acupuncturists are trained to be highly sensitive to these rhythms, making them an excellent resource for treatment.
New studies suggest a definitive link between regular acupuncture treatment and healthy biorhythms. There is a wide body of anecdotal and clinical evidence suggesting the same.
In insomnia sufferers, there has often been an upheaval in the natural biorhythm of the body which causes disruption to one’s normal sleep schedule. Acupuncture and ear acupuncture may both profoundly affect these patterns and help restore healthy balance.
4. Ear Acupuncture quiets the mind and spirit.
Finally, ear acupuncture may help quiet the mind, calm fear and anxiety, and soothe the spirit.
Clinically, ear acupuncture has been shown to improve symptoms of anxiety and panic attack in many patients. Just as insomnia is related to depression, it is also related to anxiety and panic attacks. Many who suffer from insomnia feel a deep sense of anxiety when they’re not able to sleep at night. Then, during the day, their sleep-deprivation leads to more anxiety. It’s a vicious, unsettling, miserable cycle.
In Chinese Medicine, anxiety, depression and panic attacks are all considered disturbances to the spirit that can be corrected through treatment, lifestyle changes, and restored connection. Acupuncture and ear acupuncture can interrupt the negative cycle, restore peace, and contribute to a deeper sense of wellbeing.
How Do I Treat?
Okay, now that you know that ear acupuncture is a valuable ally against seasonal allergies, you’re probably starting to wonder… how do I treat these points? And with what?
You’re on the right track! There are a few vital components to effective, accurate ear acupuncture.
1. A Good Reference Guide
The first thing you’ll need in order to treat the ear is a really good reference guide. Something that will show you WHAT points to treat, and WHERE the points are in an understandable, accurate picture. The only problem is, there are acupuncture points in all the nooks and crannies, including on the back of your ear. It would be pretty hard to see them all in a 2D image.
That’s why the best reference tool in the business is Auriculo 360. Check out the GIF below – as you can see, Auriculo 360 gives you a fully 3-dimensional ear that you can rotate, spin, turn and drag. You can also zoom in, toggle between left and right ears, and overlay the Nogier frequency zones (well-studied frequencies for different areas of the ear).
Finally, Auriculo 360 is complete with over a hundred pre-made protocols for common ailments, along with a database of hundreds of individual points. Protocols can be modified as needed to fit your treatment style! It’s an absolute no-brainer for anyone interested in learning and using auriculotherapy.
The best part is Auriculo 360 was designed to be incredibly affordable, with options less than $11 per month when paid annually.
Get a FREE TRIAL of Auriculo 360 right now:
2. A Way to Locate Points Accurately
Naturally, a reliable way to locate points comes next! There are many methods for point location that range from manual probes, to powerful devices that locate acupuncture points electrically.
These location tools range in price from ~$6 to ~$600, so it’s important to do your research and figure out which one will fit your needs.
Here are a few of the indicators that a point is “active,” or in other words, ready to receive treatment.
- Color Change: Inspect the skin for changes in color at the point you are examining. Is there increased redness? Lack of color? A different color than the surrounding skin? A dry or flaky patch? These are all indications of an active point.
- Skin structure abnormalities: Carefully look and feel for changes in skin structure. A raised bump or hard nodule, dryness, roughness or moisture may indicate the active point.
- Tenderness: Is the point tender to the touch? A mechanical point detector with a round probe tip is very useful for detecting tenderness in the auricle. The tip should be small and blunt—small so that you can locate a point easily, and blunt so that you do not cause damage to the ear with pressure. A rounded ball tip is the most comfortable. You can purchase one here.
For beginners, we recommend starting with a manual probe. It will help you locate points and leave a small indentation on the ear that will help you place the seed properly. You can purchase one here.
Electronic Location: If you’re a practitioner, high-quality auricular treatment devices have a measurement mode to electronically locate active points, and a treatment mode to treat the points once they are located. Active points will show lower electrical resistance than surrounding tissue. This is a more advanced process, but certainly worth it for those who are serious about auriculotherapy. The best microcurrent tool we’ve found is called the Pointoselect Digital. It has all the flexibility you need for advanced auricular work, like bipolar point detection and adjustable sensitivity. Treatment is just as flexible, giving you ultimate control over intensity, frequency, even pulse-width. If you’re serious about auriculotherapy, you can learn more about the Pointoselect Digital here: https://www.pointoselect.com
***Important Disclaimer: If you are not a licensed practitioner, you should not use a microcurrent device on anyone other than yourself.
3. A Powerful Way to Treat the Points
Finally, you’ll need a tool to treat! In some instances, if you’re a practitioner, this tool may be the same tool you use to electronically locate the point, like the Pointoselect Digital. For anyone else who ISN’T a practitioner, don’t worry! You can still effectively treat auricular points with a nifty tool called “ear seeds” or “ear pellets”. Ear seeds are tiny seeds from the vaccaria plant backed with a bandage-like adhesive square that you place on ear acupuncture points. Ear pellets are small, stainless steel beads (sometimes topped with a crystal for a fun look) that have a clear, adhesive circular backing.
Ear seeds and ear pellets work because the spherical shaped vaccaria seeds or stainless steel beads stimulate the acupuncture points on which they’re placed with light but consistent pressure, which sends a constant signal to your nervous system.
Treating Auricular Points with Ear Seeds
Many people apply ear seeds or pellets to treat ear acupuncture points. The continuous stimulation offered by the seeds extends and boosts the treatment, even as you work, travel or sleep. This means that results may be more pronounced, and improvement may occur more quickly. Some people press on the seeds or pellets throughout the day to offer even greater stimulation for a short period of time.
Step-by-Step Ear Seed/Pellet Treatment
- For best results use the Auriculo 360 3D reference app to locate applicable ear acupuncture points for a given condition. You can do this right on your Android or Apple smartphone using the Auriculo 360 app.
- Then, treat the suggested points by placing Auriculo 360 brand ear seeds or pellets, using tweezers, on the points recommended by Auriculo 360 for your condition.
- Leave the seeds or pellets on your ear for up to a week, though they may come off on their own after a few days.
- Follow the instructions on the ear seed or pellet packages for application, and be sure to always clean the ear before placing seeds or pellets so they adhere correctly!
***Important Disclaimer: If you are not a licensed practitioner, you should not use a microcurrent device on anyone other than yourself.
Get a FREE TRIAL of Auriculo 360 right now:
Insomnia Protocol: A Few ‘Points’ of Interest
1. Shen Men
Shen Men is one of the most well-known and powerful points in the ear. It’s also called “Spirit Gate” or “Divine Gate” because it is used to tranquilize the mind and open up a connection to one’s spirit, or higher self.
In Chinese Medicine, each of us is deeply connected to a higher power that governs the universe, and therefore, we are all deeply connected to each other. Shen Men is traditionally used to restore those sacred connections, helping us to feel centered, grounded, connected, and in-tune with ourselves and others.
It is also a powerful point for fear, tension, anxiety, stress and pain–all of which may contribute to insomnia.
This point is also called a “Master Point” which means it is nearly always electrically active–or in other words, ready to receive treatment. It may also “wake up” other points on the ear to prepare them for treatment, too.
2. Insomnia 1
As the name suggests, this powerful point, along with Insomnia 2, is used to treat insomnia. It is traditionally understood to affect the cerebral cortex, pituitary gland and central nervous system to relieve pain, ease the mind, and encourage deep and restful sleep.
3. Pineal Gland
The Pineal Gland affects melatonin production. This point is used to help regulate the Pineal gland, regulate sleep/wake cycles, and help with insomnia and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Get the Full Insomnia Protocol in the Auriculo 360 App!
For the sake of brevity, we’ll only share 3 points here. But there are hundreds more points and protocols waiting in the Auriculo 360 app!
We hope these three tiny points will make a difference in your journey.
Ear Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to help the body heal and thrive, naturally. For non-life-threatening conditions and wellness care, it can be a powerful holistic addition to your at-home wellness routine, or a great adjunct treatment to add to your professional practice!
To learn more about ear acupuncture, check out this blog post.
Or, learn more about the Auriculo 360 reference app here.
Finally, check out Auriculo 360 brand ear seeds and pellets here, so you can treat yourself at home!
Thanks For Reading!
-The “Ear Acupuncture For” Team
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28219657/
https://juniperfamilyhealth.com/blog/2018/5/9/acupuncture-to-help-balance-circadian-rhythm
