The History, Mechanism, and Clinical Application of Auricular Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract

Auricular therapy includes acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acupressure, lasering, cauterization, moxibustion, and bloodletting in the auricle. For 2500 years, people have employed auricular therapy for treating diseases, but the methods have been limited to bloodletting and cauterization. Only after 1957, the international scientific community became aware that the map of the ear resembles an inverted fetus, its introduction has led to auricular acupuncture (AA) becoming a more systemic approach, and, following the identification and standardization of more precise points, AA has been employed in clinical applications. The mechanisms of AA are considered to have a close relationship with the autonomic nervous system, the neuroendocrine system, neuroimmunological factors, neuroinflammation, and neural reflex, as well as antioxidation. Auricular therapy has been applied, for example, for pain relief, for the treatment of epilepsy, anxiety, and obesity, and for improving sleep quality. However, the mechanisms and evidence for auricular therapy warrant further study.

The Effects of Auricular Electro-Acupuncture on Ameliorating the Dysfunction of Interstitial Cells of Cajal Networks and nNOSmRNA Expression in Antrum of STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats

“…Many reports have showed that it was the good way to regulate the dysfunction of some organs such as heart, lung and stomach, etc. through stimulating the area of cavum conchae densely distributed ABVN, but not other areas on auricle, because NTS could mediate many reflexes including respiratory and GI reflexes to regulate organ functions[25,44]. This is the reason why there was no significant change of the expression of nNOS mRNA in antrum in sham AEA group by stimulating earlobe in this study.…”

“…Auricular acupuncture (AA), one of the most important branches of acupuncture, is also used in Europe and China with long history [25–26]. which looked as a diagnostic method and effective treatment of visceral diseases including functional dyspepsia (FD)[27–28]in clinic.…”

Analysis of Advantages and Disadvantages of the Location Methods of International Auricular Acupuncture Points

“…The research on history, mechanism, and clinical application of auricular therapy has experienced a long process [24]. The nomenclature, location method, and consistency between name and location are three topics in the research field of international standardization of AAPs.…”

Auricular Acupuncture for Post-Operative Tonsillectomy Pain Management

“…These devices can be left temporarily in place using adhesive tape [10]. Somatic reflexology posits that diseases are projected onto the ear at regular and measureable zones [11,12]. While no anatomical pathways exist to directly connect inner organs with the ear, limited functional magnetic resonance imaging has corroborated these projections [12].…”

“…Somatic reflexology posits that diseases are projected onto the ear at regular and measureable zones [11,12]. While no anatomical pathways exist to directly connect inner organs with the ear, limited functional magnetic resonance imaging has corroborated these projections [12]. Battlefield acupuncture is an auricular acupuncture technique that can be learnt in a 4-hour workshop [2].…”