332 lines
19 KiB
XML
332 lines
19 KiB
XML
import Article from "@/components/Article";
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import { Metadata } from "next";
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export const metadata: Metadata = {
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title: "Article - Ear Acupuncture | Dr. Feely",
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authors: [{ name: "Richard A. Feely, D.O., FAAO, FCA, FAAMA" }],
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description: `Auriculotherapy is a therapeutic intervention in which the
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auricle of the external ear is utilized to alleviate pain, dysfunction and
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disease as represented and manifest throughout the body.`,
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};
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const ArticleEarAcupuncture = () => {
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return (
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<Article
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title="Ear Acupuncture"
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author="Richard A. Feely, D.O., FAAO, FCA, FAAMA"
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>
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<p>
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Auriculotherapy is a therapeutic intervention in which the auricle of
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the external ear is utilized to alleviate pain, dysfunction and disease
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as represented and manifest throughout the body.
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</p>
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<p>
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The auricle of the ear is a complete Microsystem of the human body. All
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vertebra, sympathetic/parasympathetic nerves, spinal nerves, visceral
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organs and the central nervous system, and including all anatomical
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sites and many functional points are represented on the ear. They total
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over 200 specific acupuncture points.
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</p>
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<p>
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While originally based upon the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture,
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the somatic tropic correspondence of specific parts of the body to
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specific parts of the ear was first developed in France by Dr. Paul
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Nogier.
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</p>
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<h2>Section A | History</h2>
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<p>
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All systems of acupuncture began originally in China with the Yellow
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Emperors Classic of Internal Medicine compiled in 500 B.C. In this text,
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the six yang meridians were connected to the auricle of the ear. Whereas
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the six yin meridians were indirectly connected to the ear by its
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corresponding yang meridian. These ancient Chinese ear acupuncture
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points were scattered over the auricle of the ear. Ancient Egypt,
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Greece, and Rome between 500 B.C. and 100 A.D.. had recorded clinical
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uses of earring's and other forms of ear stimulation for various
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problems particularly in the treatment of sexual and menstrual disorders
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which Hypocrite's and Galen recorded. After the fall of Rome
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approximately 200 A.D.. ancient medical records were found in Persia
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where the medical treatment for sciatic pain was cauterization on the
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ear.
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</p>
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<p>
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From 1500-1700 the Dutch East Indian Company, while merchant trading in
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China brought many Chinese acupuncture procedures back to Europe
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including the use of ear acupuncture. It was the Dutch East Indian
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Company that saw acupuncture being used in the orient where medicine was
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placed next to the needle site and they then developed the Western
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hypodermic needle from Chinese acupuncture needles. Sporadic clinical
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reports in Europe were discussed with the use of ear cauterization to
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relieve sciatic pain.
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</p>
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<p>
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Then in 1957, Dr. Paul Nogier, a physician from Lyon, France observed
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the occurrence of scars on the ears of a patient who were successfully
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treated for sciatic pain by French lay practitioners. Dr. Nogier then
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developed a somatatopic map of the ear based upon the inverted fetus
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concept. His work was first presented in France and then published by a
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German acupuncture society and then finally translated into Chinese. In
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1958, a massive study was initialed by Nanking Army Ear acupuncture
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research team which verified the clinical accuracy of Dr. Nogier's
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inverted man concept of the little man on the ear. During the cultural
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revolution, the “barefoot doctors” were taught the easy techniques of
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ear acupuncture to bring healthcare to the Chinese masses.n of names of
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auricular anatomy in location of ear reflex points.
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</p>
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<p>
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In 1980, a double blind experimentally controlled research study at UCLA
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Pain Management Center department of anesthesiology UCLA School of
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Medicine conducted a research study by Richard J. Kroeuning M.D., Ph.D
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and Terry D. Oleson Ph.D. This study reported in PAIN verified the
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scientific accuracy of auricular diagnosis. There is a statistically
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significant level of 75% accuracy achieved in diagnosing musculoskeletal
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pain problems in 40 pain patients. Specific areas of height and
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tenderness and increased electrical activity on the ear predicted
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specific areas of the body where some pain or dysfunction would be
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identified whereas the body free of pathology corresponded to non-active
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points on the ear.
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</p>
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<p>
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Research that followed throughout the United States utilized both the
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Chinese and the French Auricular acupuncture points for the treatment of
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chronic pain problems and the withdrawal from narcotic, alcohol and
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nicotine. International meetings of the World National Organization in
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1990 culminated in a standardization of names of auricular anatomy in
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location of ear reflex points.
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</p>
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<h2>Modern China</h2>
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<p>
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While classical acupuncture was first developed in China, its use
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diminished in the 1800's when China was dominated by Western powers from
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Europe. Then with the cultural revolution of Mao Sae Tong, the Chinese
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with the inverted fetus concept rediscovered and identified auricular
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acupuncture as a potent diagnostic and therapeutic weapon. Dr. Chen
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Gong-Sun of Nanking Medical University confirmed the great changes in
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the practice of ear acupuncture that occured in China in the 1995
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international symposium and credited Dr. Nogier with systematizing ear
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acupuncture as a somatatopic pattern of the inverted fetus for
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auriculotherapy.
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</p>
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<p>
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More recent Chinese discoveries focused on ear acupuncture and diagnosis
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as a guide for recommending Chinese herbal remedies. Auricular points
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are selected according to: (1) corresponding body regions where there is
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pain or pathology according to the (2) pathological reactive points
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tender to touch, according to (3) the principles of traditional Chinese
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medicine, (4) the meridian theory, (5) according to physiological
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understanding derived from modern western medicine, and according to the
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(6) known therapeutic effects of a point in addition to the results of
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experiments in clinical observations of the practitioners. The world
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health organization and the Chinese government defined a localization of
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91 specific auricular points by 1995.
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</p>
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<h2>The Europeans</h2>
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<p>
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Much of the work of auricular therapy was delineated by Dr. Paul Nogier
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first textbook on the subject , ” The treatus of Auriculotherapy” 1972.
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In 1950 Dr. Nogier was “intrigued by a strange scar which patient had in
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the external ear.” He found that it was a treatment for sciatic a
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involving cauterization of the edge of antihelix on the same side of the
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neuralgia which had previously been observed.
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</p>
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<p>
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These patients were unanimous in stating that they had received relief
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for their sciatica pain within hours and even minutes from this ear
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cauterization. While discussing this anithelix cauterization point for
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sciatica with a colleague, Dr. Aman Thieu told Dr. Nogier ” the problem
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with sciatic is the problem with the lumbosacral hinge”. Dr. Nogier then
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conjectured that the antihelix area cauterized for sciatica could
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correspond to the lumbosacral joint and whole antihelix could represent
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the spinal column. The head could correspond to the lobe and the
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antitragius area. In this way the ear could resemble an embryo in utero.
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</p>
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<p>
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First Nogier experimented with cautery, then with a needle, and then
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with electrical microcurrents imperceptible to the patient. Theses
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microcurrents were successful in relieving pain and caused no undue
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nervous upset to the patient which cauterization had done. In 1955, Dr.
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Nogier mentioned his discoveries to the undisputed master of acupuncture
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in France Dr. Niboyet and as a result Dr. Nogier presented his findings
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to the Mediterranean Society in 1956 in which Dr. Bachman of Munich
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Germany was in attendance. He published Dr. Nogier's findings in an
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acupuncture journal which has worldwide circulation particularly in the
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far east . Because of these translations from German, the ear reflex
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system was soon known by Chinese and Japanese acupuncturist. Dr. Nogier
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commented that ” each doctor needs to be convinced of the efficacy of
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this ear reflex method by personal results that he or she is right. They
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are indeed fortunate people who can convince themselves simply by noting
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the improvement of a symptoms they themselves have experienced” As Dr.
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Nogier says ” the first stages of learning the map of the ear consist of
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getting to know the morphology of the external ear, its reflex,
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cartography and found to treat simple pains of traumatic origins.”
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</p>
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<p>
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In 1966, Dr. Nogier, discovered a change in the radial arterial pulse
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following tactile simulation to the ear. This was called the articular
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cardiac reflex. This pulse change was a modification of the pulse
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amplitude and way form. It is not related to the changes in the pulse
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rate. The Auricular cardiac reflex has been important in identifying
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each ear reflex points corresponding to particular parts of the body
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where there is pain or pathology. Later, Dr. Nogier revised the name of
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auricular cardiac reflex to the vascular autonomic signal (VAS) when he
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realized that this was an involuntary arterial reflex and was not
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limited to auricular stimulation but was in fact a general vascular
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continuous reflex that could be achieved by tactile and electrical
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stimulation for many body areas. The use of a VAS is an integral part of
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auricular medicine. Besides using mechanical pressure or electrical
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stimulation, light frequency filters and chemical substances on slides
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were put over the surface of the ear to demonstrate a VAS response.
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Wherever there was pathology in the corresponding area of the body. As
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of this date, Dr. Paul Nogier is still alive in Leon, France, retired.
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</p>
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<h2>Section B | Body and Ear</h2>
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<p>
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Both ear and body acupuncture take their origins from China. However
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body acupuncture has remained essentially unchanged whereas ear
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acupuncture has been greatly modified by the discoveries of Dr. Paul
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Nogier and further research is continuing to yield never developments in
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auricular diagnosis and treatment.
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</p>
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<p>
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Body acupuncture is based upon a system of 12 meridians, 6 yin and 6
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yang meridians. The ear is a self contained microsystem that affects the
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whole body.
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</p>
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<p>
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Acupuncture points are anatomically defined in the areas of the skin.
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They are set at fixed specific locations in body acupuncture and can
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always be detected. In ear acupuncture , the auricular point can be
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detected only when there is a problem without he corresponding part of
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the body in which the ear point represents. The deqi that accompanies
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stimulation of the body acupuncture point is not observed in stimulation
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the ear acupuncture point.
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</p>
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<p>
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In both body and ear acupuncture, the points are localized regions of
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lowered skin resistance or higher skin conductivity. When there is
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pathology in an organ represented in the meridian point or the auricular
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point the epidermal skin conductance of the acupuncture point is high.
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</p>
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<p>
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Ear acupuncture points are ipsiladeral or same side as the pain or
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pathology. This representation on the ear is due to two contralateral
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projections from the ear to the opposite side of the brain and from the
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opposite side of the brain back to the opposite side of the body. Using
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traditional Chinese medicine theory, ear points are ipsilateral because
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Qi flows up the ipsilateral meridian.
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</p>
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<p>
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Ear acupuncture provides a more scientifically verified means of
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identifying areas of pain or pathology in the body than traditionally
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Chinese medicine approaches such as tongue or pulse diagnosis. In
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auricular diagnosis one can identify specific problems in the body by
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detecting areas of the ear in which there is discolored, flaky, tender,
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or have high skin conductivity. This increased conductance is measured
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by a probe and is repeatable and verifiable. The subtle changes in
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auricular diagnosis may identify conditions in which the patient and the
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physician may only be marginally aware of.
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</p>
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<p>
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Both ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) and body acupuncture can be
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chemically utilized to relieve pain pathology. They both can be used
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together or applied separately. Healing not just pain relief. Both body
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acupuncture and ear points do not simply reduce the experience of pain
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but also facilitate natural healing processes within the body. Auricular
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therapy facilitates the natural self regulating homeostatic mechanisms
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of the body by diminishing over active body functions and increasing
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underactive physiological processes. Both body acupuncture and auricular
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therapy can have deep physiological and psychological affects.
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</p>
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<p>
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Direct evidence of endorphinogenic response to auricular therapy has
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been provided by Abbot et al in 1980, they observed a significant
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increase in endorphins after acupuncture stimulation was combined with
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nitric oxide inhalation. Whereas the controlled subjects given nitric
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oxide without acupuncture showed no elevation of the endorphins.
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</p>
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<p>
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The primary side-effects of ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy) is that
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the ear itself can become tender and inflamed. Auricular therapy and
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acupuncture generally is not recommended for patient with pace-makers
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and during pregnancy. While auriculotherapy does not require the use of
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needles, ear points may be sensitive to any applied simulation through
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auriculotherapy treatment. Infection is almost never heard of in
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auricular therapy and acupuncture and if a patient is afraid of needles,
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auricular electrical stimulation is the preferred treatment.
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</p>
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<h2>Embryological Basis</h2>
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<p>
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Dr. Paul Nogier noted that the ear was composed of tissue from each of
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the three primary types of tissue in the developing embryo. His theory
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was that each type of embryological tissue on the ear accounts for a
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different somatotopic functions related to the auricle. Ectodermal
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tissue, superficial tissue is found in the ear lobe in the helix teal.
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The ectoderm become the skin, hair, sweat gland, cornea and lens of the
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eye. Nose, epithelium, teeth, nerves, spinal cord, subcortex of brain,
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cerebrum and pituitary gland, pineal gland and adrenal medulla.
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</p>
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<p>
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The mesodermal tissue , the middle tissue is found in the anithelix
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scaphoid fossa, the triangular fossa. The mesoderm becomes the
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musculoskeletal system of muscles, joints, bones, cardiac muscles,
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smooth muscles, connective tissue, blood cells from the bone marrow,
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lymphatic tissues, genial organs, kidney, and the adrenal cortex.
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</p>
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<p>
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The third type is the endodermal tissue, the deep tissue which is found
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in the concha. The endoderm becomes the gastrointestinal digestive
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tract, the lungs, tonsil and the respiratory system. The internal organs
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like the liver, pancreas, bladder, urethra.
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</p>
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<h2>Hormonal Basis</h2>
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<p>
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The neurotein system: natural pain relievers, endorphins, enkephalins,
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are indigenous morphine chemicals which are found within the pituitary
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and other parts of the central nervous system and encephalon is
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subfactor of endorphin. These neurotransmitters occur in the brain at
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the same site where opiate receptors are found. Both body and ear
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acupuncture have been found to raise the blood serum and cerebral spinal
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fluid levels of endorphins and enkephalins. Naloxone is a opiate
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antagonist which blocks morphine endorphin.
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</p>
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<p>
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Research report from UCLA by Simons & Oleson 1993, Mayer et al 1977,
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were the first investigators to provide scientific evidence that there
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was neurophysiological and neurochemical basis for acupuncture and
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auriculotherapy in human subjects. They demonstrated that the
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acupuncture stimulation of the body through Large Intestine 4 points,
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led to a significant increase in pain threshold. They were then able to
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yield statistically significant reversal of elevated pain threshold by
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intravenous administration of 0.8 mg of an opiate naloxone. The
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acupuncture had raised dental pain threshold by over 27 %. There was no
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treatment control group which showed a 6.9% in dental pain threshold. A
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total of 20 of 35 acupuncture subjects showed increased pain threshold
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greater than 20% contrasted with only 5 out of 40 subjects in the
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controlled condition exhibiting a 20% elevation of pain threshold.
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Naloxone given to acupuncture subjects reduced the pain threshold to the
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same level as the control group.
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</p>
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<p>
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Direct evidence of endorphinogenic response to auricular therapy has
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been provided by Abbot et al in 1980, they observed a significant
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increase in endorphins after acupuncture stimulation was combined with
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nitric oxide inhalation. Whereas the controlled subjects given nitric
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oxide without acupuncture showed no elevation of the endorphins.
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</p>
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<p>
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TENS ( transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) suppresses pain by
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activating A-Fibers which inhibit the input from C fibers. Acupuncture
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stimulation tends to activate C fibers which activates super spinal
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gating systems which then send descending input to the spinal inhibitory
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neurons which suppresses the pain message. Secondary, stimulation
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produced analgesia is a pain inhibitory system that has been
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demonstrated by brain stimulation by the periactiductal central gray
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matter which reduces the responses to pain in rats, cats, monkeys, and
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humans. This peripheral stimulation and ear acupuncture points may
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peripherally activate the pain inhibitory system.
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</p>
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</Article>
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);
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};
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export default ArticleEarAcupuncture;
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