Auricular therapy is a highly developed system of diagnosing and treating disorders anywhere in the body by expertly examining the ear, by which the practitioner can accurately determine symptoms as well as the root cause of disease and disharmony.

The ear micro system (auriculotherapy) has been well studied. Discovered by the French in 1950 it was then adopted by the Chinese after reading about it in a German medical acupuncture journal. Despite European influence, auriculotherapy is not well known or practiced much in the United States.

Auriculotherapy uses stimulation of the external ear to alleviate conditions. Practitioners believe that the various parts of the body are "mapped" on the external ear similar to the way reflexologists find a mapping of body parts in the feet and hands. Stimulation of the ear at locations corresponding to body parts is thought to have a beneficial effect on those organs.

Auriculotherapy is similar to ear acupuncture except that it doesn’t use needles. A micro-current stimulator is place on reflex points on the external ear. These points send a message to the brain, based on the location of the reflex point being affected. Auriculotherapy is based on the human nervous system, whereas acupuncture is based on “energy meridians.”

Natural pain relieving biochemicals know as endorphins and enkephalins are substances that are made in our bodies to fight pain. They work as well as morphine to alleviate pain. Auriculotherapy has been shown to raise the levels of these substances in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Endorphins and enkephalins also contribute greatly to our sense of well-being. Using auriculotherapy to raise the levels of these chemicals can help those struggling with cravings, addictions, compulsive disorders, and withdrawal.

According to this theory, auriculotherapy can be used to treat a wide variety of problems, such as: alcoholism, allergies, arthritis, bronchitis, chronic pain, depression, high blood pressure, back pain, skin disorders. In addition, anxiety, stress, chronic pain, fatigue, irritability, depression, smoking, alcoholism, eating disorders are able to be treated.

It can be used for acute and chronic states, in addition to allopathic medicine, to perform analgesia, and intoxication (tobacco, alcohol); psycho affective and relationship problems can be treated by auriculotherapy, as well as neuro-vegetative dysfunctions. Contra-indications include: pregnancy, very old people, coagulation problems, and when medical logic does not allow it.

Some studies that demonstrate the benefits of auriculotherapy are:

§         Sur la moindre résistivité de la peau au niveau des points d'acupuncture et d'auriculothérapie These du Dr. J.E.H. Niboyet, Marseille (1963).

§         Sur le diagnostic et la localisation des douleurs articulaires. Expérience en double aveugle du Dr. Terrence Oleson, Los Angeles (1980)

§         Analgésie chez le chat par stimulation auriculaire, travaux du Dr Durinyan, Moscou (1980).