Inflammation: An Overview of Factors for Auricular Testing

Inflammation: An Overview of Factors for Auricular Testing

Chronic inflammatory diseases have been recognized as the most significant cause of death in the world today, with more than 50% of all deaths being attributable to inflammation-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and autoimmune and neurodegenerative conditions[1]

The Importance of Considering all Contributing Factors

An article in the Journal of Nature Medicine, Chronic Inflammation in the Etiology of Disease Across the Lifespan (Furman 2019), describe these effects and out-lines some promising avenues for future research and intervention. The article also offers insight on factors involved in, what is an  enormous complexity of, the inflammatory response.  

Beyond factors including chronic infections, microbiome dysbiosis, physical activity, nutrition, social & lifestyle, environmental toxicants, SCI and disease risk are hypothesized to be perpetuated transgenerationally. So, as Furman et al argue, there is a great need for studies to address the equally complex anti-inflammatory regulatory pathways relevant for influencing inflammation-related disease risk.[1]

An Inflammation Guide for Auricular Testing

Auricular approaches are getting increasing recognition in research on inflammation. The overview of complexity related to inflammation lends itself to a comprehensive list that can act as a guide of related aspects to possibly test for using Auricular Medicine:

  • Interferon point and possibly associated functional points, energy points, and medication analogue points, as they relate to inflammatory response (i.e. PGE1, Master Point of Regulation, Cortisone, just to name a few).
    These points and context for their application is introduced in Level 1: Enhanced Auricular Assessment and Treatment)  
  • Nutrition (vitamins and minerals), especially deficiencies in micronutrients, including zinc[2] and magnesium[3], which are caused by eating processed or refined foods that are low in vitamins and minerals, and having suboptimal omega-3 levels[4], which impacts the resolution phase of inflammation.[see footnote] Don’t forget to possibly consider energy points such as the “Master Point of Regulation” and “Master Point of Qi Flow” according to Bahr, as these influence stimulation of nutrition regulation[5].
    Context for these points is furthered in Level 2: Clearing Blockages to Healing
  • Miasms bring into a consideration for the assessment of the Governor Vessel 4-15, along the timeline related to epigenetic inheritance[6]
    Approaches for treating miasms are introduced in How to Treat PTSD and Trauma of the Soul, and continued in Level 3.
  • Constitution (perhaps especially physical and functional weaknesses related to the chronic diseases, i.e. CVD, kidney disease, diabetes, and others, for which inflammation significantly predicts risk).
    Approaches for strengthening constitution are covered in the Level 3 Master Class.
  • Emotional points as they may relate to lifestyle and psychological factors including stress, sleep, depression, etc.An excellent introduction to emotional points is
    How to Access the Emotional and Somatic Experience.
  • Toxicities as may be related to environmental factors. 
    Context and approaches for assessing and treating toxicities are introduced in Level 1: Enhanced Auricular Assessment and Treatment

Related Courses

The Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine is presenting the Global Methods series in Ventura, March 24-26, 2023. An opportunity to see demos of German Auricular Medicine approaches across all levels (1, 2 & 3). 

Also, a broad overview of approaches to testing, is presented by Dr. Bahr in the course, The Most Important Frequencies in Auricular Medicine (watch on YouTube).

 

Footnote: Longchain omega-3 fatty acids—especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid—modulate the expression of genes involved in metabolism and inflammation[4]. More importantly, they are precursors to molecules such as resolvins, maresins and protectins that are involved in the resolution of inflammation[7-8].

References:

[1] Furman D, Campisi J, Verdin E, et al. Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span. Nat Med. 2019;25(12):1822-1832. doi:10.1038/s41591-019-0675-0

[2] Bonaventura P, Benedetti G, Albarède F & Miossec P Zinc and its role in immunity and inflammation. Autoimm. Rev 14, 277–285 (2015). [PubMed] []

[3] Nielsen FH Effects of magnesium depletion on inflammation in chronic disease. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care 17, 525–530 (2014). [PubMed] []

[4] Calder PC Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man. Biochem. Soc. Trans 45, 1105–1115 (2017). [PubMed] []

[5] Strittmatter B. Chapter 6: Ear Acupuncture: A Precise Pocket Atlas Based on the Works of Nogier/Bahr. 2nd ed. Georg Thieme Verlag; 2011:252-255.

[6] Bahr F., Wesemann C. Psychische Verletzungen – Seelische Traumen wer wirklich unser Leben mit positivem und negativem Qi lenkt. Bahr / Wesemann: 2019.

[7] Serhan CN Pro-resolving lipid mediators are leads for resolution physiology. Nature 510, 92–101 (2014). [PMC free article] [PubMed] []

[8] Serhan CN & Levy BD Resolvins in inflammation: emergence of the pro-resolving superfamily of mediators. J. Clin. Invest 128, 2657–2669 (2018). [PMC free article] [PubMed] []


←  Back to Ear to the Ground (news & ideas that integrate auricular)

Comments

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published