Anxious? You’re Not Alone.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States. It affects about 18% of the adult population—more than 40 million adults. Additionally, it affects about 25% of teenagers. Unfortunately, the majority of anxiety sufferers are not receiving treatment.
However, there is some good news. There is growing evidence that Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) techniques, including acupuncture, may be very helpful in managing stress and anxiety. Ear acupuncture (also called auriculotherapy) is a specialized form of acupuncture that can be performed at home, without needles. It also shows great promise as a co-treatment for anxiety. 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 about stress and anxiety, you should 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 you should try ear acupuncture for anxiety!
1. Ear Acupuncture Promotes Relaxation
A 2001 study indicates that ear acupuncture may help with anxiety by promoting a sense of relaxation. Conventional acupuncture has been well-studied for this affect. This study provides evidence that ear acupuncture may be similarly effective.
One of ear acupuncture’s most popular uses is for preventing and dealing with anxiety and stress. Daily ear seeds may prevent anxiety and panic attacks by providing constant pressure to ear acupuncture points known to mitigate anxiety symptoms.
2. Ear Acupuncture has been shown to decrease anxiety, stress, AND depression.
In various studies, ear acupuncture has been found to decrease anxiety, stress and depression simultaneously. Many people who suffer from anxiety also deal with depression and excess stress. Ear acupuncture may decrease the occurrence and severity of all these issues, leading to a greater quality of life over time.
And, in other good news, ear acupuncture doesn’t come along with a laundry list of side-effects, unlike many other treatments for mental illness. Documented side effects of ear acupuncture are all positive—better mood, increased sense of well-being, better sleep, and better digestion are just a few!
3. Ear Acupuncture stimulates endorphin release.
Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers. Also called “feel good chemicals” they are released in response to both positive and negative experiences, either to increase the pleasure of a moment, or to decrease or mute the pain. Natural endorphins are mood-boosting, pain-relieving, regulating hormones that help us cope with difficult and painful situations.
Ear acupuncture has been shown in numerous studies to incite the release of endorphins in the brain. Unlike a drug, endorphins are natural chemicals, and they are non-addictive and free of side-effects. Natural means of encouraging endorphin release may help decrease immediate pain, and may even lead to increased quality of life, healthier mood, and better mental health overall.
4. Ear Acupuncture may lead to an overall sense of calm and connectedness.
There are dozens of ear acupuncture points that have been traditionally used for thousands of years to promote a sense of grounded tranquility and calm. Ear acupuncture has been shown to promote nervous system balance, encouraging activity of our “resting and digesting” state, and decreasing the constant “fight or flight” response.
Because ear acupuncture doesn’t require needles, is it a gentle option for anxiety sufferers who many feel uncomfortable with needles. It’s also great for kids. You can stimulate ear acupuncture points for days on end by applying pressure to ear seeds, which may extend the benefits of treatment and encourage relaxation, peace, and a sense of calm for days on end.
Over time, the neurotransmitters produced in the brain in response to ear acupuncture may help bring balance to an anxious brain, leading to fewer anxiety symptoms in the longterm.
Okay, now that you know that ear acupuncture may be a powerful option for anxiety, you’re probably starting to wonder… which points do I treat? How do I treat them? And with what?
You’re on the right track! There are a few vital components to effective, accurate ear acupuncture.
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:
Anxiety Protocol: A Few ‘Points’ of Interest
1. Anxious Point
This point is specific for emotional and mental disturbances, including anxiety, stress, depression and feelings of nervousness. As the name suggests, it has been traditionally used to decrease symptoms of anxiety and stress, and to boost mood.
2. Tranquilizer Point
Tranquilizer point is used for general sedation of the nervous system and overall relaxation. It may help with chronic stress and promote a sense of wellbeing and calm. This would be a fantastic point to stimulate throughout the day, or whenever feelings of anxiety arise.
3. Master Cerebral
This point is used by acupuncturists to address the pre-frontal lobe of the brain, which is the area of the brain that determines social behavior, advanced cognitive thought and decision-making, and personality expression.
Traditionally, this point is understood to help with anxiety, fear, worry, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, irritability and trouble focusing. It may also promote deep, restful sleep.
Get the Full Anxiety 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://adaa.org/finding-help/treatment/complementary-alternative-treatment
https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30442551/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4606196/
