Auricular
acupuncture
Lecturer: Qu Hongyan
Contents
1. Relationship between the ear, channels and
zang-fu organs
2. The anatomy of the auricle
3. The concept and distribution of auricular
points
4. Locations and indications of some points
5. Exploration of auricular points
Concept
Auricular acupuncture is one of the acupuncture
therapies used to prevent and treat diseases. It is
done by needling or stimulating areas on the ear.
 a wide range of indications
Features
 a good therapeutic effect
 convenient for everyday use and easy to perform
 safe and no side effect
The origin of auricular acupuncture
•
Auricular diagnostic and therapeutic methods were first recorded in
Chapter 20 of Ling Shu that “when pathogenic factors attack the liver, it
will cause pain in the hypochondria…needle the blue vessels around
the ear to relieve the dragging pain.” In the 24th chapter of Ling Shu it
says, “for the deaf who can’t hear, needle the center of the ear.” It is
also recorded in Qian Jin Yao Fang( Prescriptions Worth a Thousand
Gold (Invaluable ) for Emergencies that needling Point “Center” is an
appropriate treatment for jaundice, diseases due to cold, summer-heat
or epidemic, pathogenic factors. In other classic medical literary texts
there are descriptions of stimulating the ears and certain auricular
areas with needles, moxibustion, massage and herbal suppositories to
treat and prevent diseases; as well as inspecting and palpating the
auricles to assist in disease diagnoses. These methods are still used
as folk remedies, which demonstrates that auricular therapy has a very
long history associated with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in
China.
Relationship between the ear and channels
The channels of the hand-taiyang, hand-shaoyang,
foot-shaoyang and the collateral of the hand-yangming
enter the ear;
The channels of foot-yangming and foot-taiyang travel
to the front of the ear and above the ear respectively;
The divergent channel of the hand-jueyin comes out
from the back of the ear;
The vessels of the yang heel and yin heel go to the
back of the ear;
The six-yin meridians connect to the ear by means of
their divergent channels that separate, enter, resurface
and finally join their interior-exterior related yang
channels respectively.
Relationship between the ear and zang-fu organs
The ear has close relation with zang-fu organs
as well. According to records in Nei Jing, the ear
links to the five-zang organs physiologically.
In Li Zheng An Mo Yao Shu(The Extensive
Techniques of Massage) the back of the ear is
divided into five parts that correspond to the fivezang organs respectively.
The anatomy of the auricle
The concept and distribution of auricular points
concept
Auricular points are the specific areas
distributed over the ear. When there is an
illness in the body, it may manifest on the
ear as tenderness, deformities,
discoloration, and disturbance in the skin’s
electrical properties.
Points related to the portion of the head are
located on the ear lobe;
Regularities
Points related to the upper limbs are located on the
scapha;
Points related to the trunk and lower limbs are
located on the body of the antihelix and superior and
inferior antihelix crus;
Points related to the organs in the abdomen are
located on the cymba concha;
Points related to the organs in the chest are located
on the cavum concha;
Points related to the digestive tract are distributed
around the helix crus
Locations and indications of some
points
Points on the Helix
Erjian(HX6,7 ) ear apex
【Location】 At the apex where the ear is folded
forward at the juncture of area 6 and 7 of the helix
【Indication】 Fever, hypertension, ocular sty, acute
conjunctivitis, toothache
Points on the Antihelix
Jiaogan(AH6) sympathesis
【Location】 At the junction of the end of the
inferior antihelix crus and the medial edge of the
helix in the front of area 6 of the antihelix
【Indication】 spasm of the stomach and
intestines, angina, biliary colic, ureterolith,
functional disorders of autonomic nerves
Points on the Triangular fossa
Shenmen(TF4)
【Location】 At the upper part of the posterior
1/3 of the triangular fossa, at area 4 of the
triangular fossa
【Indication】 Insomnia, profuse dreaming,
withdrawal syndrome, epilepsy,
neurasthenia, pain disorders
hypertension,
Points on the concha
Neifenmi(CO18) endocrine
【Location】 On the inside of the notch of the
intertragus and anterioinferior part of the cavum
concha at are 18 of the concha
【Indication】
dysmenorrhea,
irregular
periods, menopause syndrome, acne, malaria,
hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
Exploration of auricular points
 Inspection
 Detection of the tender spot
 Measurement of electrical resistance
Inspection
Auricular inspection is to check for abnormal
changes on the ear in order to diagnose diseases or
disorders.
The most commonly seen positive changes
include deformities, discoloration, pimples,
desquamation, nodules, congestion, depression
blister and so on.
Detection of the tender spot
This method searches for the tender spots on the
ears with a probe, the head of an acupuncture needle
handle, or the end of a matchstick by pressing and
moving on the surface of the ear gently and smoothly.
Measurement of electrical resistance
This technique detects decreased electrical
resistance in points with an electrical detector that
has an indicator lamp or special sound.
Clinical application of auricular
acupuncture
1. Assistant diagnosis
2. Principles for selecting auricular
points
3. Indications of auricular acupuncture
4. Manipulations
5. Retaining and withdrawing of needles
Assistant diagnosis
When there is an illness in the body, especially the
organic disease, it may manifest on the ear as positive
reactions. There maybe tenderness, deformities,
discoloration, and disturbance in the skin’s electrical
properties. We can establish the diagnosis according to
these reactions combined with symptoms, signs and
medical history.
Principles for selecting auricular points
 Choosing the corresponding point to the location of
the diseased or affected part of the body
e.g. Select the stomach (CO4) for the treatment of
stomachache
 Choosing the points based on the visceral
manifestation theory
e.g. Choose the kidney (CO10) for alopecia
Choose the lung (CO7) and large intestine (CO14)
for skin diseases
Principles for selecting auricular points
 Choosing the points based on the channel pattern
identification
e.g. Select the bladder (CO9) or pancreas and
gallbladder (CO11) for sciatica
Choose the large intestine (CO7) for toothache
 Choosing the points based on modern medical
theory
e.g. Choose Shenmen (TF4) and Subcortex (AT4) for
painful conditions and inflammation
Select the endocrine (CO18) for irregular periods
Principles for selecting auricular points
 Choosing the points based on clinical experience
e.g. Select external genital (HX4) for pain in the lower
back and legs
Ear apex (HX6,7i) for bloodletting and for red,
swollen and painful eyes.
Indications for auricular acupuncture
•
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Painful disorders
Inflammatory and infectious diseases
Allergic diseases
Endocrinal and metabolic disorders
Others
Beauty therapy, smoking and
drug addiction, anti-aging and
disease prevention
Manipulation
• Select points According to the diagnosis to
determine the prescription and appropriate
auricular points
• Disinfection Beside disinfect the needles
and fingers of doctors, the auricular points should
be swabbed with 2% iodine first and then with
75% alcohol as routine asepsis.
Manipulation
Treatment methods
•
Filiform needles that are 0.5 cun in length or specially
made thumbtack type needles are selected for auricular
acupuncture. To begin with the procedure, stablize the ear
with the left hand and insert the needle with right hand; for
the thumbtack type intradermal needle insertion, the
needle should be fastened to the ear with a piece of
adhesive tape and kept in place for 2 to 3 days.
•
The points may also be treated with the ear-pressing
method. Magnetic beads or wang bu liu xing are
fastened to the ear with a piece of adhesive tape on the
auricular points and kept in place for 3 to 5 days. The
patient is asked to press the selected points 2 to 4 times a
day.
There will be local pain or heat sensation in most
of the patients after the needle insertion. They may
experience soreness, numbness, heaviness or
coldness due to the needling sensation traveling
along certain channels. General speaking, patient
who experience these sensations obtain a relatively
better therapeutic outcome.
Retaining and withdrawing of needles
Filiform needles are allow to be retained for 20 to
30 minutes. However, they may be prolonged by 1 to
2 hours or even longer for chronic conditions. During
the needle retention, the needles should be rotate
intermittently, when removing the needles, stabilize
the ear with the left hand, and withdraw the needles
with the right hand and press the needle opening
quickly with dry cotton balls if bleeding occurs.
Precautions
• The ears should be disinfected carefully to prevent
infection
• Filifrom needling on auricular areas may produce
strong pain, so explanation is necessary before
treatment in order to obtain cooperation from patients
• When treating a sprain or other soft tissue injuries,
the patient should be encouraged to move the
affected part in order to increase the therapeutic
outcome
• Needling fainting should also be prevented from
happening during auricular acupuncture. Prompt
intervention is needed if this happens.
Contraindications
• Auricular acupuncture should be contraindicated for
pregnant women or women who are prone to
abortion;
• This therapy is not advisable for patients with
frostbite, ulceration, eczema and so on;
• It is not recommended for patients with severe
diseases or bad anemia;
• In the treatment of severe heart disease or severe
hypertension, strong stimulation should be avoided