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Auricular Therapy

The speciality of Auricular Therapy is an internationally documented and researched procedure based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It involves the stimulation of specific points on the ear (auricle) for the treatment of health conditions.

The Smiling Body Auricular Therapy protocol is a painless therapy, and involves the placement of Ear seeds, which are small seeds from the Vaccaria plant. These seeds are held in place on the ear with a small piece of adhesive tape. Ear seeds may be left in the ear for a few days or up to two weeks.

In 1990, the Director General of the World Health Organisation proclaimed to an international gathering that “Auricular acupuncture is probably the most developed and best documented, scientifically, of all the micro systems of acupuncture and is the most practical and widely used.”

Auricular therapy is widely used for many conditions, including addiction treatment, cravings, obesity, mood disorders, pain, and other conditions. This medical system emphasises a holistic approach to medicine, an approach that treats the whole person. The points found on the ear help to regulate the body’s internal organs, structures, and functions.

Auricular therapy is widely used for many conditions, including addiction treatment, cravings, obesity, mood disorders, pain, and other conditions. This medical system emphasises a holistic approach to medicine, an approach that treats the whole person. The points found on the ear help to regulate the body’s internal organs, structures, and functions.

If you are interested in experimenting to see if ear stimulation can help the problem you are having, I suggest you try massaging the ear in the areas indicated on the chart with sesame oil, and see if you think there is a benefit. A fingernail or a dull probe, such as the tip of a ball point pen, might be used to press a particular point for 7-15 seconds to see if you note a benefit. Don’t press to the point of extreme pain, but some discomfort is to be expected when stimulating the ear. Try stimulation twice or three times a day to see if you note any difference in the duration, intensity, or frequency of discomfort.

If you find some value in ear stimulation, you may either continue massage on a regular basis, or you may attempt to focus in on a particular point on the ear.

Auricular therapy was mentioned in the most famous of ancient Chinese medical textbooks, The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. In modern times, auricular therapy has been shown to stimulate the release of endorphins, and the bodies own feel-good chemicals.

If you look very closely at Matt Damon’s ear you’ll notice something…
His rep stated that:

“Those are acupuncture “seeds’ in his ear.”
Sometimes after a treatment ear seeds are put into the ear with skin colour tape. This is done to help stimulate acupuncture points in the ear that correspond to different parts of the body. Ear seeds can be helpful in sustaining the treatment effects.

I’m glad Matt is a fan of traditional Chinese medicine



James O'Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
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