Auricular acupuncture is a form of acupuncture, in which the surface of the ear (auricular) is stimulated to alleviate pathological conditions in other parts of the body (Oleson, 2003).

Although this form of acupuncture is thought to have initially evolved from ancient china, it was not until in the 1950's where most development occurred. A french doctor named Paul Nogier was fascinated by some of his patients who had scars on the ears as a treatment for sciatica. The scars were from a cauterising procedure performed by a lay practitioner passed down from a chinese practitioner. After repeating the procedure himself with positive results his interest emerged.

In 1958 Dr. Nogier produced ear maps illustrating correspondences between diseased areas of the body and the ears surface. This was the origin of the inverted fetus map on the external ear. These models were then taken further and verified by the Nanjing Ear Acupuncture Research Team.

Today, auricular acupuncture is used in a variety of settings. Examples include the NADA protocol, which has been used within addiction and behavioural health services, and Battlefield Acupuncture, a particular auricular protocol developed for pain management. Auricular techniques are also used alongside more conventional body acupuncture in clinical practice.

Auricular acupuncture can be used on its own or alongside acupuncture points elsewhere on the body. Fine needles are inserted into selected points on the external ear according to the individual and the reason for treatment.

The needles may be retained for a short period during a treatment. In some cases small seeds or press-tacks can also be attached to the ear, allowing gentle stimulation of selected areas between appointments.

At Exeter Acupuncture & Osteopaths we tend to use auricular acupuncture as one part of a broader treatment rather than as a completely separate system.

One of the things that makes auricular acupuncture particularly interesting is the nerve supply of the external ear.

The ear receives sensory innervation from several nerves, including branches of the trigeminal nerve, cervical nerves and the vagus nerve. The auricular branch of the vagus is particularly interesting because it provides one of the few places where vagal nerve fibres can be stimulated through the skin.

This has led to considerable scientific interest in transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and its potential effects on autonomic and central nervous system activity.

Auricular acupuncture and taVNS are not the same treatment, so research into one shouldn't simply be used as evidence for the other. However, the anatomy provides an interesting modern perspective on why stimulation of different parts of the ear may produce physiological effects.

Research into auricular acupuncture has investigated a wide range of clinical applications, but the quality and consistency of the evidence varies considerably between conditions.

There is also growing research interest in the neurophysiology of stimulation of the external ear, particularly areas supplied by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. This is helping us understand more about how stimulation of the ear can influence the nervous system, although it should not be taken as proof of the traditional auricular acupuncture maps.

At Exeter Acupuncture & Osteopaths, we regard auricular acupuncture as another treatment option that can be incorporated where clinically appropriate, rather than making broad claims about what ear acupuncture can treat.

You can also learn more about Five Element Acupuncture, Medical Acupuncture, Traditional Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture, or return to our Types of Acupuncture overview.