Auriculotherapy is a form of alternative medicine based on the idea that the ear is a micro system, which reflects the entire body, represented on the auricle, the outer portion of the ear. In Europe the system was discovered, explored & described by French physician Paul Nogier in the 1950s. During his work he noticed that some of his patients had small scars on their ears caused by burning. These traces were left after the sciatica treatment by the local therapists. All patients had scars in the same place, on the lower arm of the anthelix. He gradually explored & described other areas of the auricle & verified his findings on the patients. In China the ear acupuncture was used in the Tang Dynasty (617-907 AD) as we know from the documents but for unknown reasons it was no longer used & fell into oblivion. Nogier’s knowledge came soon after his findings to China & the method was quickly developed. Nowadays the therapists can use several types of ear microsystem projections, the most famous is Nogier’s projection & the Chinese version further developed by Austrian authors Konig & Wancura in Europe.
The method is very convenient for both diagnostics & post-treatment. The effect is quick, if acupuncture needles are used, it is quicker than classical acupuncture. At the start of the treatment I first examine both of the client’s ears. I use a metal stick to find sensitive points & I need the client’s cooperation to tell me when I touch sensitive spot. There are several ways how to treat discovered sensitive points. Non-invasive methods include laser pen, acupressure, sticking of seeds or miniature magnets with subsequent compression with acupressure effect on the point.
