Yves Rouxeville, lecturer in charge of the Auriculotherapy Curriculum for the Inter-University diploma (DIU) in acupuncture at the Université de Nantes, and colleagues, conducted a study in response to a request made by Professor Youenn Lajat that the Vascular Autonomic Signal (VAS, also known as Réflexe Auriculo-Cardiac or Nogier Pulse) be validated. At the time, Professor Lajat was the national president of the Coordination Committee for the DIU. With the question of potential for bias from a ‘human-on-human reading’ using the VAS, establishing statistical correlations between two detection approaches (the VAS and electrical differential detection), Lajat suggested that a study could make it possible to validate auricular point diagnosis using the VAS.
From a historical perspective, it is indispensable to recall the blind testing achieved using the Acus system developed by Prof. Serguei Timochevski, who, in November 1996, observed a concordance between detection achieved by the VAS and electrical differential detection plus “a general concordance of 90% between detection by the Acus system and electrical detection.”[1, 84-85, 128-130]
Manual recognition of the VAS is well documented. It has been demonstrated[1, p. 35-41], [2, p.123-125]. After 20 years of practice, the most reliable auricular stimulations retained were among those demonstrated by Paul Nogier in the course of his productive mentorship.[3] Electrical detection has been demonstrated[4] [2, p.117-121].
For the purpose of this research, the European Community-standard medical devices approved in France for all general practitioners in clinical setting were used. The detector was calibrated on Point Zero on the right ear of a right-hander (or on Point Zero on the left ear of a left-hander). Until 2008, the AGISCOP®-branded device was used. In 2009, the researchers have begun to use the MODULO 100® as it offers the benefit of an electronic screen and scale for easier tracking and logging of readings.
Results
- The points known as phase 2 or 3 auricular points, as early as 1995, generally appeared to be presenting a much lower drop in impedance than the reference point.[4] [5, p.29].
- A blind study conducted in 2008,[6] recorded 241 points on the Romoli sectogram.[7]
- Of the 186 auricular points detected by Heine lamp[1, p.104-105], 120 registered a strong impedance drop, 53 registered a weak drop, and a total of 93% of these points showed an impedance drop.
- Of 173 auricular points detected by scanning the auricle with the white tip of the Black & White Detector[5, p.26], 116 points showed a strong impedance drop and 38 showed a weak impedance drop for a total of 89% of the points showing an impedance drop.
- Of 43 auricular points detected by scanning the auricle with the black tip of the Black & White Detector[7, p.26], 29 are also positive when stimulated by the color blue forty four. And, 28 of these points registered at higher impedance.
- A new study in 2009, allowed researchers to flesh out the results observed on the auricular points detected by using the Heine lamp.
- Auricular points detected by scanning simultaneously with frequencies 3.75 Hz and 8.74 Hz (using what is known as “the twin-key DB”)[1, p.141] [7, p.33], fell mainly into 2 groups: a strong impedance drop and a weak impedance drop. Further analysis of these points by projecting on them the colors orange twenty one and blue forty four would be instructional.
Discussion
- Phase 2 and phase 3 auricular points are weak impedance points. When treated by standard needle insertion, laser or electrical current, they are effective in chronic and or complex disorders.
- In our 2008 and 2009 studies, we strived to avoid the bias by beginning in the blind and using the most subtle tests first, and by ending our experiment with electrical-detection proving.
- - auricular points detected by the Heine lamp or by the white-tip scan or by the Twin-key DB, fall under 2 categories : strong or weak impedance drop.
- - the auricular points detected by both the black tip of the Black & White Detector and the color blue 44, are considered the so-called energetic-leak points. They were found to be of higher impedance.
Conclusion
- Auricular points come under two levels of impedance drop.
- A large portion of the points detected by the VAS are subtle. These are found to show an impedance drop less noticeable than in points sensitive to painful pressure.
- Detection by the VAS is not some notion of the mind. In our opinion, it statistically appears to be valid.
- The effectiveness of Auriculomedicine is evidence-based; it can be proven with the right level of testing.
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