Auricular Acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture is the stimulation of acupuncture points on the external ear surface for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions in other areas of the body. The ear holds a microsystem of the body, consistent with the brain map discoveries of Canadian neuroscientist Wilder Penfield. Dr. Penfield found that maps of the body exist on the surface, or sensory cortex, of the brain. This same brain map is also projected onto different areas of the body, “microsystems”, and in particular precision, onto the ear.
Ear acupuncture has proven to be an efficient method of treating a wide variety of conditions, from headaches and allergies addictions and pain disorders to increasing muscle strength, endurance and recovery and optimizing athletic performance.
The map on the ear is in form of an inverted fetus with all the fine details of 
the anatomical, physiological, and emotional body represented. The tissue of the ear is unique and has functions in addition to our sense of hearing. The ear is the first organ to develop to its full size and become fully functional about 18 weeks after conception and is one of a few anatomical structures composed of tissue from each of the 3 primary types (endo, ecto, mesoderm) in the developing embryo.
The History
The earliest use of ear acupuncture, like body acupuncture, dates back to ancient China. Auricular acupuncture as we know it today however is largely the outgrowth of work begun by Dr. Paul Nogier, a neurologist trained in acupuncture. He found that the ear holds all of the acupuncture points of the body plus more detailed physiological and anatomical correspondences and found that stimulation of these points were very effective in alleviating pain and other symptoms. When an auricular acupuncture point on the ear is “active” it expresses as increased tenderness on stimulation and a higher electrical conductivity. This indicates pathology in the corresponding body tissue or function and makes auricular acupuncture a useful form of assessment of ailments. The texture, colour, skin changes, veins, etc., in different areas of the ear can be indicators of the state of health.
What kind of needle?
Treatment is performed by needling the respective points on the ear and, if 
necessary, also on the body. Disposable surgical stainless steel, or gold or silver plated, needles are used. They are inserted only millimetres under the skin. All signals induced by ear acupuncture travel through a specific part of the brain, the diencephalon, to the corresponding body parts. The body strictly obeys these commands because they come straight from the brain. Thus ear acupuncture takes advantage of the body’s own control center, the brain. All diseases that can be traced back to a disturbed, but not destroyed, organ function can be treated by ear and body acupuncture: migraine, insomnia, depression, addictions, indigestion, autonomic symptoms, most conditions of pain and inflammation. Some patients feel immediately relieved, others need several days before they notice an improvement. Some people feel as if they were walking on air after treatment, and almost all feel very relaxed.
Treatable conditions
The World Health Organization lists 150 conditions for which it recommends auricular therapy as an appropriate and viable treatment procedure. Some of these are listed below.
Acute Sprain/Strain
Arthritis
Athletic Enhancement
Baker’s Cyst
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Cervical Radiculopathy
Coccygodynia
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Costochondritis
Degenerative Disc/Joint Disease
De Quervain’s Syndrome
Facet Joint Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Tension/Stress, Cluster, Sinus, Rebound, Migraine Headaches
Herniated Discs
Hip, knee, and shoulder arthritisIT Band Friction Syndrome
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis elbow)
Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s elbow)
Morton’s Neuroma
Neuralgia
Occipital Neuralgia (Arnold’s Neuralgia)
Paresthesia
Peripheral Neuropathy
Piriformis Syndrome
Plantar Fasciitis/Fibromatosis
Post Laminectomy Syndrome
Postural Imbalance
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
Sacroiliitis/ SI Joint Pain
Stroke Sequelae
Surgery rehabilitation
Rehabilitation from Major Fractures, Hairline and Stress Fractures,
Functional Scoliosis
Shin Splints/ Tibial Stress Syndrome
Shingles and Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
Shoulder Impingement/Frozen Shoulder
Spinal Stenosis, Spondylosis
Sprained Ligament(s)
Strained Muscle(s)
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain
Tendonitis/Tendonopathy
Tenosynovitis
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Whiplash
Institute for Athletic Acupuncture, LLC
