Body of Research

In a study to assess the immediate effects of auricular acupuncture on electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius muscle and pain in non-specific neck pain patients, the immediate effect of auricular acupuncture interventions on the electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius muscle showed positive results. Abstract and link to full text at Hindawi. Reference:Andréia Cristina de Oliveira Silva, Daniela Aparecida Biasotto-Gonzalez, Douglas Meira dos Santos, et al., “Evaluation o...

Auricular acupuncture treatments have become increasingly available throughout a variety of healthcare settings, resulting from a push for the expansion of non-pharmacologic treatment options. Specifically in military treatment facilities, this has been the case for offering support to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A study aimed to explore the self-reported benefits of auricular acupuncture treatments for veterans living with PTSD found positive improvement resulting fr...

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.

Low level laser has been used to reduce pain, inflammation and edema, to promote wound, deeper tissues and nerves healing, and to prevent tissue damage since the invention of lasers. Sherin Farivar and colleagues review proposed cellular mechanisms responsible for the effect of visible light on mammalian cells, including cytochrome c oxidase (with absorption peaks in the Near Infrared | NIR). Mitochondria are thought to be a likely site for the initial effects of light, leading to increased A...

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...

The randomized controlled trial from this study show that ear acupuncture can be a useful treatment approach to control migraine pain. It has been shown that active points on the ear — those as described as being tender by the patient when probed, a technique also known as Needle Contact Test (NCT) — identify the most efficacious ear acu- or stimulation-points to support the condition (e.g. migraine). From the randomized controlled trial completed by Allais, Romoli, Rolando et. al. you can le...

The Vascular Autonomic Signal (VAS) is a physiological response of the neurovascular system of the body to information being brought into its energy field. This response is palpated on the wall of the radial artery. The discovery of the VAS by Dr. Paul Nogier in 1966 brought an energetic diagnostic tool to the world. Muriel Agnes, founder of the Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine (CIAM), studied the VAS to explore mechanisms for understanding the VAS. The studies include a clinical demo...

Owing to the fact that analgesic drugs do not always offer adequate pain relief, cancer pain is a difficult problem for clinicians. For over 30 years, auricular acupuncture has been used in pain treatment, and recently has been used for complementary treatment in cancer pain. The authors report results from auricular treatment in a series of 20 patients with cancer pain. Read published research.   Reference:  Alimi, D., Rubino C., Leandri, E.P., Brulé, S.F. Analgesic Effects of Auricular Acup...

In a research study published by Kroening and Oleson, the application of a rapid detoxification procedure for narcotics was provided to 14 chronic pain patients to support withdrawal from opiate pain medications — and help reduce or avoid the severe withdrawal signs which accompany detoxification in chronic pain patients taking high levels of analgesic medications. After first switching all patients to oral methadone, each patient received bilateral electrical stimulation to needles inserted ...