In traditional Chinese medicine
Auricular acupuncture therapy is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is attributed to a type of microneedling system. It has been considered a valuable asset in the treasure trove of Chinese medicine. There are many Chinese medical classics that include auricular points to treat diseases as defined by Chinese medical theory. But it wasn't until French neurologist Paul Nogier systematically referenced and mapped the points of the ear in the late 1950s that this form of treatment was widely studied, developed, and practiced as a modality in its own right in East Asia and the West.
History and development
French neurologist Paul Nogier invented auriculotherapy in 1957. Nogier developed a phrenological method of projecting a fetal Homunculus onto the ear and published what he called the "Autonomous Vascular Signal", which measured a change in pulse amplitude. This mechanism would only produce a signal when new information is introduced into the patient's electromagnetic field. Nogier cited a 'corresponding resonance principle' that he could use to detect active points in the atrial microsystem using the autonomic vascular signal.
Nogier auricular acupuncture was introduced to China in 1958.
A variation of auriculotherapy called “ear stapling” involves long-term insertion of a medical staple into the conchal bowl of the ear. Its advocates make various claims, saying the procedure helps with weight loss, quitting smoking and managing stress.