Body of Research

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigating Auricular Therapy for chronic pain management, showed promising results for relief. The full text can be requested via PubMed. Reference:Zhao HT, Tan JY, Wang T, Jin L. Auricular therapy for chronic pain management in adults: A synthesis of evidence. Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2015 May;21(2):68-78.

The palpation of the Vascular Autonomic Signal (VAS), also known as the Nogier reflex or Reflex Auriculo-Cardiac (RAC) is an important method used primarily in Auricular Medicine. This article presents a methodological approach for the detection and quantification of the VAS. View the paper. Reference:Litscher G, Bahr F, Litscher D, Min LQ, Hong PJ. A New Method in Auricular Medicine for the Investigation of the Nogier Reflex. Integr Med Int. 2014;1:205–210  

In the context of an alarmingly high prevalence of albuminuria — rates indicating there will be 300 million diabetic patients in the year 2025 — this study assesses the effectiveness of simple, standardized protocol-based auricular acupressure for quality of life improvement in these patients with kidney disease. Results of this study indicated that auricular acupressure significantly helped patients with chronic kidney diseases to improve their quality of life outcomes.  Wang S, Chen Z,...

The NADA protocol is a nonverbal, evidence-based best practice intervention with immediate calming effects on patients, regardless of the specific substance used, or whether a coexisting psychiatric disorder has been diagnosed. Initial participation with this 5-point protocol improves involvement in the treatment process.  Read more for context and continuing education options for nursing and mental health professionals   Citation: Carter K, Olshan-Perlmutter M. NADA Protocol: Integrative ...

There are two types of strokes: (1) a severe type with loss of consciousness (involvement of the internal organs) and (2) a milder type with no loss of consciousness (involvement of the channels only). In both types, aphasia can be present. The effectiveness of acupuncture for addressing apoplectic aphasia has been shown in studies.[1,2] For auricular acupuncture, select from Brain, Adrenal Gland E, Adrenal Gland C, Point Zero, ShenMen, Master Cerebral, Sympathetic Autonomic Point, Endocrine ...

Through a systematic review of Medline and Embase databases, with the inclusion of four preclinical and five clinical studies on Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) and transcutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS), Shiozawa et. al. concluded that TNS and tVNS improve treatment of particular neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. See the details of the study that shows promising (even though mixed) results at SciELO Brasil.   Reference: Shiozawa P, Silva ME, Carvalho TC, Cord...

Research into the clinical specificity of ear acupuncture points representing organs or structures of the body is ongoing. In this pilot study, using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), researchers study point specificity using two auricular points having different topographical locations and clinical significance: stimulation of Thumb Auricular Acupoint (TAA) and stimulation of Brain Stem Auricular Acupoint (BSAA). The differences in activation patterns between TAA and BSAA stimula...

Using a modern scientific basis, Rabischong and Terral examine clinical findings and experimentally reproducible data that reliably demonstrate the auriculotherapy procedures initiated by Paul Nogier, MD, of Lyon, France. Abstract and link to full text at PMC. Reference:Rabischong P, Terral C. Scientific Basis of Auriculotherapy: State of the Art. Medical Acupuncture. 2014 Apr 1; 26(2): 84-96 The Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine (CIAM) offers curricular basis in the work of Bahr/...

Obesity is a chronic condition related to serious morbidity and mortality of increasing incidence and prevalence. Several studies show a significantly higher weight loss with acupuncture treatment. This is the first prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, testing the effects of auricular electroacupuncture on weight loss in obese female patients. Read more about the promising results showing the possibility of electrical auricular acupuncture to be a safe, adjunctive, non-pharmacologic...

Beyond the use of needles, auricular treatments are applied using Low Level Laser. In a review article lead by Regina Round in conjunction with the Frank Bahr Research Group “Auriculomedicine and Pharmacopuncture,” scientific findings on auricular acupuncture with laser are described and critically discussed. Results of studies have shown evidence of the effect of auricular laser acupuncture. However, a comparison of these studies was impossible due to their different study designs. Details o...

Facing a variety of complex physical and mental health conditions, injured veterans returning home from deployment often require long-term medical management for conditions that can be challenging to treat with conventional Western medicine practices alone. In an article by Heather King and colleagues from the Naval Medical Center San Diego and the American Academy of Nursing, Auricular acupuncture is introduced as an approach being used to manage symptoms associated with a wide range of heal...

According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, approximately 3.1 million US adults had used acupuncture in the previous year. Acupuncture is more known for pain management. However, it is also used as an adjunct therapy for the management of nausea, vomiting and lymphedema, especially among patients with cancer. In a case presentation, auricular acupuncture reduced the pain and swelling in the legs of a 90 year old patient who was previously unresponsive to conventional therapy and i...