ACNJ practitioner, Jonathan Holasek recently attended an acupuncture conference in Washington. We spoke with Jonathan to share some of the many unknown benefits of ear acupuncture and excited to share it with you below, enjoy.
What's ear acupuncture and why was this so conference important?
Ear or auricular acupuncture uses hundreds of acupuncture points in the outer ear region that connect with the body's organs and many systems to treat a wide variety of disorders and conditions. I have recently been to three conferences for Auricular Acupuncture at John’s Hopkins in Maryland, at the Eastern School of Acupuncture in Montclair, NJ and at The Won Institute in Philadephia.
Auricular (ear) acupuncture was discovered in China and was further developed in Europe using modern research methods and research. Auricular acupuncture was first researched in France by Dr. Paul Nogier and Dr. Rene Bourdiol. Their work was extended by Dr. Frank Bahr and more recently Dr. Beate Strittmatter in Germany, utilizing advanced technology to develop a revised map of the acupuncture points of the ear. This is the most comprehensive and detailed reference for auricular treatments currently in use.
Auricular Therapy is based on the knowledge of modern anatomy and very different from the earlier Chinese model of ear acupuncture. While the earlier Chinese method is based upon their ancient meridian model, Auricular Therapy utilizes the unique and specific relationship between the ear and the brain via the cranial nerves. Thus the ear is seen as a “computer screen” for the brain, establishing the direct relationship between specific areas of the brain and corresponding points on the ear. We can therefore identify ear points that reflect brain activity for specific areas of the body. In this way we can diagnose as well as treat every area of the body by using the ear to access the areas of the brain that control or affect those areas of the body.
The conference I attended at Johns Hopkins was led by Dr. Raphael Nogier. Only for the past couple years has he been teaching French Auricular acupuncture in the United States. He is the son of the founder of French auricular acupuncture, Dr. Paul Nogier, and the foremost leader of that discipline.
When do you use auricular acupuncture?
Can it be used in conjunction with meridian or body acupuncture? Is it painful?
Personally, I utilize Auricular acupuncture with every patient I see as an important adjunct to their treatment. It’s not painful and can also be used along with traditional acupuncture to the meridians of the body for a more comprehensive treatment.
Are there conditions or patients that auricular acupuncture is particularly effective for?
Auricular acupuncture is effective for all types of maladies, the same conditions that are treated by traditional Chinese acupuncture. All pain issues, digestive and sleep disorders, infertility, emotional issues like stress and anxiety, etc. That’s because we use electronic point detectors to identify the active points on the ear that correspond to the areas of the brain involved with a current pathological condition. Then by applying specific electronic frequencies via subtle electric currents (microcurrent, or millionths of an amp) or a laser, to that point on the ear, we can treat those body conditions via the brain. The results can be immediate and quite effective!
Some patients get needles or pellets taped in their ear for several days...why do you use this technique?
Often, after treating the ear point with micro-current or laser (for 20-30 seconds per point), small round magnet pellets are taped, or semi-permanent needles are placed on those points to provide continuing stimulation and treatment for several days.
Do you use other ways to stimulate the ear or body points?
I sometimes use regular ear or body needles by wiring them to a different device that provides various frequencies of micro-current for a different approach to treating a specific local affliction, such as joint or muscular pain. These treatments generally decrease local inflammation, increase local circulation and boost the body’s natural inherent pain suppressing mechanisms.
Please describe a recent patient whom you’ve helped using ear acupuncture.
Just the other day a patient had extreme pain and muscle spasms of the lower back in the lumbar area. With just 5-10 minutes locating and then treating the associated ear points with micro-current and placing magnetic pellets on those points, the pain was lessened. Following that with 30 minutes of traditional acupuncture to points on the arms and legs, the patient left with a reduction of 75% of the pain and much less muscle spasm. With subsequent follow up treatments and the possible use of natural anti-inflammatory herbs, complete remission of the pain should be reached.
If you would like to learn more about ear acupuncture or auricular therapy please contact Jonathan Holasek and our practitioners at ACNJ. We look forward to supporting your healing journey.
Jonathan Holasek - L. Ac., Dipl. O.M.