Auriculotherapy

Auriculotherapy, or ear acupuncture, is a therapeutic approach that involves stimulating points on the auricle for therapeutic purposes.

Although this method was practiced by ancient civilizations, auriculotherapy is truly the fruit of the work of Lyon-based doctor Paul Nogier (1908 - 1996).

It was in 1951 that Paul Nogier discovered auriculotherapy by chance, while listening to the account of one of his patients who had seen his sciatica relieved by a healer who had burned a specific point on the auricle. Intrigued, Paul Nogier began his research and discovered that there were painful points on the ears corresponding to painful areas of the body. Little by little, he succeeded in establishing relationships between the body and the different zones of the auricle, and drew up precise maps.

In 1956, he published his first article on auriculotherapy in the Bulletin de la Société d'Acupuncture, entitled "Le pavillon de l'oreille et points réflexogènes". Translated into German and Chinese, the article became the starting point for research and development of auricular acupuncture in China.

Highly effective, auriculotherapy aroused enthusiasm in Europe and China, and aroused the interest of the World Health Organization (WHO), which began an evaluation study in 1987. In 1990, under the chairmanship of Paul Nogier's son, Raphaël Nogier, the WHO convened a working group in Lyon to standardize the nomenclature of ear points, and standardized 43 points.
 

Ear points can be treated in several ways:

• Using acupuncture needles

• Using semi-permanent needles that are left in place for several days

• Using laser frequencies