Developed by Neurologists and endorsed by the World Health Organization, Auriculotherapy is safe, effective micro-current stimulation of nerve endings on the outer ear to help balance and/or normalize a range of physiological and psychological functions. This gentle electrical stimulation of the external ear is also used to alleviate health conditions in other parts of the body.
How does it work?
Auriculotherapy is often confused with ear acupuncture, but it uses no needles, and instead of "meridians" uses nerve connections. A micro-current stimulator is placed on reflex points on the outside of the ear. These points send a message to the brain based on the location of the reflex point being treated. Most people feel only a tiny tingling at the ear reflex point during treatment.
Anxiety and Depression
Auriculotherapy is used to stimulate the brain into manufacturing and activating "well being" neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine. The objective of Auriclotherapy is to reduce cravings and anxiety that drive a person to engage in self destructive or socially unacceptable behaviors. To be certified to treat patients with Auriculotherapy one must be a physician, a doctor of Medicine, Osteopathy, or Chiropractic licensed in his/her state for electro-stimulation modalities. Auriculotherapy works directly to restore normal brain chemistry and facilitate healthy thoughts and behaviors.
The Ear/Body Map
There are no "meridians" that cross the ear, but a rich network of nerve endings which travel from the skin of the ear, through cranial and cervical nerve roots, back to the brain. The ear to brain connection is the shortest and most direct of any of the body's neurological "micro-systems" (a small representation of the body's anatomy).
Auriculotherapy is the only direct micro-system that can be used for both diagnosis and treatment. Iridology is the only other direct micro-system, but this can only be used for diagnosis. All other micro-systems such as Foot Reflexology and Acupuncture are considered indirect.
What Happens?
An Auriculotherapy treatment can take 10-20 minutes. You will be lying on your side or back with a comfortable pillow to support your neck. The practitioner will be running a small, battery powered micro-current device around your ear. You will hear a quiet, high-pitched noise coming from the Stimplus Pro. When the practitioner treats an active reflex point that he/she has located you may feel a sensation of a pulse or pin prick. This sensation will only last 30-60 seconds.
Micro-current stimulation is used in preference to needles, acupuncture, laser and other forms of current as this best matches the natural frequencies of the nerves being treated. Micro-current attempts to normalize abnormal nerve activities. The advanced design of the instrument we utilize has the additional advantage of being able to locate active reflex points as well as treat them.
There are no known contraindications or dangers of Auriculotherapy (for ultra-safety we do not recommend this treatment if you have a pacemaker or are in the first trimester of pregnancy). The number and regularity of Auriculotherapy sessions will depend on the severity and complexity of the health problem being treated and the severity and number of active reflex points located upon examination.
Auriculotherapy can be used as a "stand alone" treatment, but we have found it extremely effective and complementary when combined with modern Chiropractic techniques utilized in our practice.