AURICULAR

Acupuncture Handbook

 Compiled by Michael James Hamilton, L.Ac.

 Copyright © 2002 by Michael James Hamilton, L.Ac.

 

All rights reserved. Reproduction of any kind without prior written permission of the compiler is prohibited.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

MAIN WORK    

 

HISTORY      1

SYMBOLISM     2

FORTUNES     3

ANATOMY     5

EAR POINTS     8

POINT LOCATION INSPECTION     20

TREATMENT METHODS     21

NEEDLE TECHNIQUE     22

ANESTHESIA     23

 

FIGURES     25

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY     45

 

MAIN WORK (Partial Sample)

AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURE: (Shanghai 472-491), (Wexu), (Oleson), (Tyme 349-366)

Auricular acupuncture, or auriculotherapy, can utilize the ear alone to treat disease. A child (homunculus) and organs are imposed on the ear in order to locate the proper point for the treatment of disease. Auriculotherapy treats a broad range of common and difficult diseases with simple methods, is convenient (no undressing is necessary), and safe (few side effects). Its effectiveness can be measured in acupuncture anesthesia and analgesia.

 

Auriculotherapy information is compiled according to Chinese, Nogier, and UCLA Pain Management Center methodologies.

 

Ear acupuncture is summarized according to history, symbolism, fortunes, anatomy, points, point location inspection, treatment methods, needle technique, and anesthesia.

 

History: (Wexu 1-6), (Oleson 3)

Ancient India: (2000 BC)

The Suchi Veda, “Science of Needle Piercing,” states that auriculotherapy as well as body acupuncture (180 points) and moxibustion is utilized in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various diseases.

 

Ancient China: (500 BC)

Ear acupuncture was used as early as 500-300 BC as recorded in Neijing. Disease of various parts of the body can be cured by needling the corresponding ear points, which promote qi and blood in the channels and collaterals and adjust the zang-fu organs. The 6 yang channels traverse portions of the ear, either directly or through a branch. The 6 yin channels have no direct connection, but they are related through their paired yang channels. The 3 extra vessels, Yangqiao, Yinqiao, Yangwei also enter the ear.

 

Neijing:

“All the vessels congregate in the ear.” –Ch.28 Lingshu

“The kidney qi communicates with the ear.” –Ch.17 Lingshu

“The heart opens at the ear.” –Ch.4 Suwen

“As for diseases in the liver…when there is deficiency, the ears cannot hear…when the qi is rebellious, there are headaches and the ears are deaf.” –Ch.22 Suwen

 

Thousand Ducat Prescriptions by Sun Simo (Tang): says the Lower Abdomen Point should be needled and warmed with moxibustion to treat jaundice and common cold (in summer).

 

Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Ming): says that moxa should be burned at the ear apex to treat eye membrane disorders.

 

Traditional folk medicine: eye redness was treated by pricking the ear lobes, or bloodletting the posterior auricular vein. The ear lobes were pulled upward to treat HA, and massaged to treat infantile convulsions.

 

The Chinese points were not organized somatotopically.

 

Scarification, bleeding, massaging, and blowing ear points were among the various treatments associated with auriculotherapy.

(end of partial sample of MAIN WORK)

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Hamilton, Michael. Acusource: The Acupuncture Handbook. Honolulu: Plum Blossom Press, 2000.

 

O’Connor, John and Bensky, Dan, translators and editors. (Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine). Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text. Seattle: Eastland Press, Inc., 1981.

 

Oleson, Terrence. Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and Western Systems of Ear Acupuncture. Los Angeles: Health Care Alternatives, 1992.

 

Shen, Peter with Joyce Wilson. Face Fortunes. Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia: Pelanduk Publications, 1997.

 

Siou, Lily “The Ear.” Traditional Chinese Medicine. Tai Hsuan Foundation, Fall 1993.

 

Tyme. Student Manual on the Fundamentals of Traditional Oriental Medicine (3rd Edition). San Diego: Living Earth Enterprises, 1997.

 

Wexu, Mario. The Ear: Gateway to Balancing the Body; A Modern Guide to Ear Acupuncture. Santa Fe: Aurora Press, 1985.