Auriculotherapy, i.e. Acupuncture performed through the auricle, is an energetic-functional type of medicine which constitutes an important complement to analytical-causal (also known as "Western") medicine. Although Western medicine has made great progress and saved numerous lives, it cannot guarantee a satisfactory diagnostic and therapeutic response in all cases.

 

1. Recent developments in this new field

 

Two discoveries contributed to the development of auriculotherapy by French doctor Paul Nogier (1908 – 1996), beginning in 1945:

• Vascular surgeon René Leriche discovered that arteries pulsate more if the skin is stimulated.
• Paul Nogier discovered that some of his patients inflicted minor burns on a certain part of the ear to eliminate backache. 

In the light of the arterial reaction described by Prof. Leriche, named ACR (auricular cardiac reflex), and as a result of some technical applications, Dr. Nogier, aided by many doctors such as German doctor Frank Bahr, discovered a correspondence between the parts and functions of the body and auricle after many years’ work and study. The resonance points of vitamins, minerals, metals and homeopathic remedies, such as belladonna, aconite, etc., were identified with the aid of the ACR, and this research is still continuing. In fact, the whole body and its functions are represented in the auricle. It has also been discovered how to perform allergy tests in the context of this medical diagnosis, instantly and non-invasively (i.e. without taking blood samples).

 

2. Diagnosis and procedure

 

Auriculotherapy uses a standard diagnosis procedure. Employing painless techniques such as electrical voltages or frequency modulation of a laser, or with the aid of a polarizing filter, certain organs, systems and functions of the body can be activated and examined. In this way the body reacts (if touched with certain substances or certain frequencies at given points) through the pulse, which enables the doctor to draw diagnostic conclusions.

 

Slide: applications required for a given auriculotherapy examination.

 

Action: application of a modulated laser frequency or application of an electrical voltage to one side of the body.

 

Reaction: the opposite side is examined by applying a laser, a substance or a low voltage to the auricle. The Nogier pulse reveals any reactions.

 

Many causes of illness can be discovered with the aid of this method of energy medicine. The following are some examples.

 

3.1. Foci

 

A focus is an acute or chronic local disorder which causes a partial or total blockage of the body’s information system. This blockage, which is responsible for diseases that may be located at a distance from the focus, can be compared with a radio transmitter which disturbs the reception of another.

A focus can be constituted by a scar, or a chronic inflammation such as tonsillitis or sinusitis. The teeth are often foci, because of fillings made of material which can have a micro toxic effect on the body such as mercury (in amalgam), palladium (in gold alloys) or titanium (in implants), or because of inflammations (apical granuloma, pulpitis, periodontal disease, etc.).

 

3.2. Deficiency of vitamins or minerals

 

Such as selenium or zinc

 

3.3. Poisoning by gaseous substances

 

Such as formaldehyde

 

3.4. Infections

 

Like the increasingly frequent intestinal or vaginal candidosis or parasites.

 

3.5. Intolerance to food or medicines

 

It is difficult for analytical-causal ("Western") medicine to discover these intolerances, but much less difficult for auriculotherapy, which uses rapid, non-invasive tests, as already mentioned. These intolerances, which are increasingly frequent and severe, cause not only abdominal disorders but also headache, dizziness, eczema and so on.

 

3.6. Allergies

 

3.7. Energetic-functional disorders

 

as they are known in the sphere of traditional Chinese medicine. For example, the cause of a headache (except in the case of a tumor) may be meteoropathic (wind), psychic/mental (stress), or due to food intolerance, malfunction of the gallbladder, an energy blockage in the meridians ("muscle tension"), blood stagnation, the after effects of accidents, etc.

Finding the cause of a functional symptom is difficult, partly because the patient is often unaware of the cause of the disorder. However, auriculotherapy facilitates identification of the cause.

 

4. Treatment

 

The treatment consists of puncturing certain points of the auricle with needles or applying a laser frequency, in order to treat the symptoms and seek to remove the causes. Remedies such as vitamins, minerals and homeopathic or allopathic medicines are also prescribed.

 

5. Conclusions

 

Auriculotherapy is an energetic-functional diagnostic and curative system based on traditional Chinese medicine, adapted to contemporary diseases. Thus it can not only cure diseases which have always known, but also disorders caused by modern lifestyles.

Auriculotherapy also acts as the key to penetrating the vast system of Chinese traditional medicine and choosing the active points (those of traditional acupuncture) with the aid of ACR (the Nogier pulse).