Body of Research

Bioelectronic medicine progressively comes into focus as offering a non-pharmaceutical treatment option for various diseases. Here neuromodulation of the vagus nerve (VN) has gained a special interest. In a comprehensive review technical issues, modeling concepts, regulatory and safety requirements, and novel architectures of open and closed-loop aVNS paradigms, Kaniusas and his colleagues focus on the physiological role of VN including a biology-driven rationale for Auricular Vagus Nerve Sti...

This editorial proposes a multimodal concept for future research on the Vascular Autonomic Signal (VAS) through hypothesis concerning mechanisms of the VAS. Download the paper on Medicines (external link)  Litscher G, Yannacopoulos T, Kreisl P. Nogier Reflex: Physiological and Experimental Results in Auricular Medicine—A New Hypothesis. Medicines 2018;5(4):132. 

Badran et. al. provide commentary on the growing interest in modulating the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN). Researchers clearly want to know which ear target is optimal for taVNS e tragus or cymba conchae. Although the authors note discrepancies — identified by Burger and Verkuil in the investigation of a manuscript by Peuker and Filler describing vagus innervation of the ear — that they have found difficult to resolve, their commentary offers insights.[1] First, recognizing the i...

The use of auricular methods for application in the field of psychology is supported by research such as the positive treatment results from auricular chromotherapy presented by Alexandre Massao Yoshizumi, MS, Daniel Guillermo Asis, MD, and Fabiola Andrade Luz, PhD. The auricular chromotherapy protocol, a technique developed by Dr. Asis and Dr. Federico Zarragoicoechea (with contributions from Jorge Boucinhas and Rafäel Nogier, MD), shows that simple auricular methods — methods that require l...

The human ear (the auricle) offers access for neuromodulation in support of a broad range of therapeutic approaches. Auricular methods work well under both biomedical and biopsychosocial models (for pain and other conditions). From Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation,[1] to acupuncture,[3][6] to psychological frameworks such as Polyvagal Theory, Trauma-Informed Care, and Somatic Psychology,[2-3] auricular methods provide an integrative pathway to healing that is grounded in a holistic...

Gary Stanton, MD, provides an overview of how ear acupuncture is used in the treatment of various neurologic conditions. Although not comprehensive, this paper offers informative citations (primarily journal articles referenced in PubMed) to demonstrate that auriculotherapy used in neurology is an evidence-based medicine. Read the full paper (external link) Reference: Stanton G. Auriculotherapy in Neurology as an Evidence-Based Medicine: A Brief Overview. Med Acupunct. 2018;30(3):130–132.

Dr. Im Quah-Smith, MD, PhD, conjoint lecturer for Women’s and Children’s Health the University of New South Wales Medicine Program, points to evidence, clinical applications, and several use cases, to argue for broader use of Vascular Autonomic Signal (VAS) palpation in Auricular interventions (Auricular Medicine, ear acupuncture, transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation, and low-level laser therapy): “Today Auricular Medicine has strong biological and clinical evidence for its application with...

Headache remains a frequent complaint for children presenting to a pediatric emergency departments and typical treatments such as oral or intravenous medications do not always relieve the pain. An alternative intervention shown to be effective is auricular acupuncture. This pilot study presents a cohort study of patients 8 to 18 years of age treated by ear acupuncture, with all showing improvement or resolution of their migraine headache, Read the entire pilot study (external link) Reference...

In a review of TNS, tVNS and Auricular Stimulation, Benjamina Mercante (and her colleagues Franca Deriu, and Claire-Marie Rangon) present possible sites and mechanisms of action in the Central Nervous System. The paper suggests that with the continuous advancement since the auricular maps of physician Paul Nogier, the field of advanced non-invasive neuromodulation via the ear, due to the innervation by the cervical plexus, may become the most affordable, accurate and powerful gateway to the b...

Often, study results of acupuncture for relief of postoperative pain do not offer compelling results owing to high risk of bias associated with improper randomization, inadequate control, and lack of blinding and allocation concealment. Systematic reviews do conclude that the evidence for Auricular Acupuncture on reducing postoperative pain is promising [18]. Study protocols such as this, provide an example for integrative medicine practice in a hospital setting for the management of postoper...

As a result of the increasing worldwide research into auricular acupuncture, the field is now considered by many physicians to be an evidence-based medicine. Gary Stanton at the Department of Neurology, Sleep Medicine and Pain Medicine Services at Emerson Hospital in the USA, offers a summary of the history of auricular acupuncture, its clinical rationale, indications, methods and advantages. See the report (external link). Reference:Stanton G. Auricular Acupuncture as an Alternative Me...

Since prior studies of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have had inconsistent findings (owing to variability in stimulation targets and parameters), the authors undertook to develop a transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS)/functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) system enabling the comparison of taVNS in relation to control stimulation through concurrent electrical stimulation and fMRI acquisit...