About Auriculotherapy

Developed in the 1950s by French neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Nogier, auriculotherapy is based on the idea that each part of the ear reflects a corresponding organ or body system. By placing tiny seeds on precise points, this gentle, needle-free technique helps reduce discomfort and support overall well-being.
Modern research and fMRI brain-imaging studies confirm that stimulating these ear points produces real, measurable effects in the brain — supporting its benefits for pain, stress, sleep, digestion, and more.

Why The Ear Matters

The ear isn’t just for hearing. It’s actually one of the most connected parts of your body.

During early development, the ear forms from all the main building blocks of the embryo, which means it shares connections with many different tissues and systems. Because of this, the ear contains:

Tiny muscles and cartilage
A rich blood supply
And, most importantly, a dense network of nerves

These nerves link directly to the brain and the nervous system, including areas that regulate stress, digestion, mood, pain response, and inflammation.

So when we stimulate specific points on the ear, we’re not just working on the ear itself — we’re sending signals through pathways that can influence how the whole body feels and functions.

How This Helps Your Health

Several major nerves connect the ear to the brain, including the vagus nerve, which plays a big role in:

Calming the nervous system
Easing stress and anxiety
Regulating digestion and heart rate
Supporting immune response

Modern Research Discoveries

Modern brain-imaging studies (including fMRI) show that when specific points on the ear are gently stimulated, it creates real, measurable changes in brain activity and nervous system pathways.

These changes support the body’s natural ability to regulate and restore balance, making auriculotherapy helpful for:

Pain relief
Stress and anxiety reduction
Improved sleep
Digestive support
Emotional stability and mood
Overall nervous system regulation

The WHO (World Health Organization)

Supports Auriculotherapy

In the 1990s, international standards for auricular therapy were created with help from the World Health Organization (WHO). Recently, Auricular Acupuncture Points (AAPs) were recognized as a model for how the brain is organized. This understanding came from studying the connections between ear zones and their brain counterparts. The WHO supports auriculotherapy by:

Standardizing names, points, and locations for auricular therapy after collaborating with doctors from Asia, Europe, and America in 1990.
Promoting a consistent naming system for auricular acupuncture to enhance research, teaching, and practice.
Recognizing auriculotherapy as a valid part of clinical care.

RESEARCH

Pain Management

“Analgesic effect of auricular acupuncture for cancer pain: a randomized, blinded, controlled trial”, Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2003):
This trial offers strong evidence that ear acupuncture, when precisely applied, can provide meaningful relief for chronic cancer-related pain—even in patients already receiving analgesic medications. It stands out as one of the most rigorous and supportive studies in this area of complementary oncology.
Results (after 2 months):
Pain intensity decreased by 36% compared to baseline in the active treatment group, versus just 2% in placebo groups.
Demonstrates a clear analgesic benefit from auricular acupuncture as an adjunct to analgesic therapy.
Sleep Quality

Auricular Acupressure Therapy for Patients with Cancer with Sleep Disturbance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” (Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021):
A randomized controlled trial found that auricular acupressure significantly improved sleep quality among cancer patients experiencing sleep disturbances—with no notable side effects reported.
Results (ranged from 10-42 days):
Significant improvement in overall sleep quality.
Improvements were seen across several areas of sleep — including quality, duration, and daytime energy.
Neuropathy

“Preliminary Effectiveness of Auricular Point Acupressure on Chemotherapy‑Induced Neuropathy: Part 1 Self‑Reported Outcomes” (Pain Management Nursing, 2019):
Study found that auriculotherapy using ear seeds can be a promising, self-administered, non-pharmacological approach for managing the side effects of chemotherapy.
Results (after 4 weeks):
Tingling symptoms decreased by 38%; numbness by 49%.
Functional improvements exceeded 28–36%, sustained even one month post-intervention
Anxiety, Fatigue and Sleep

“Effect of Auriculotherapy on Anxiety-Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances in Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review” (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025):
16 studies with 669 cancer patients were analyzed. Most studies focused on breast cancer patients.
Results (after 3–8 weeks)
Lower anxiety
Reduced fatigue
improved sleep
Side effects were very mild (sometimes slight ear tenderness).
Auriculotherapy for pain, fatigue & sleep

Pilot randomized controlled trial of auricular point acupressure to manage symptom clusters of pain, fatigue, and disturbed sleep in breast cancer patients. Cancer Nursing
The preliminary results suggest that using ear seeds may be a low-cost, effective complementary approach for managing symptom clusters in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Results (after 4 weeks)
71 % reduction in pain
44 % reduction in fatigue
31 % reduction in sleep disturbance
61 % improvement in daily activities
Follow-Up (1 Month Later):
Many improvements were sustained even after the intervention ended, suggesting ongoing benefits beyond active treatment.
Symptom reduction in breast cancer

Auricular Acupuncture During Chemotherapy Infusion in Breast Cancer Patients: A Feasibility Study” (Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine, 2022)
The delivery of auricular acupuncture during chemotherapy infusion was associated with reduction of symptom burden, anxiety, and nausea in breast cancer patients.
Results (after 2 days):
A significant reduction in overall symptom burden
Reduced anxiety immediately after treatment
Less nausea on day 2

Ways To Stimulate Ear Points

EAR SEEDS

Ear seeds provide a gentle, needle-free form of auriculotherapy rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. They stimulate specific ear points to support physical and emotional health by applying continuous pressure on nerve endings, triggering the brain to release natural endorphins that relax the nervous system and reduce pain. AcuKITS™ use latex-free vaccaria seeds, chosen for their long-standing traditional use in stimulating ear acupuncture points.
AcuKITS™ includes 300 latex-free, sterile seeds for one-time use only and can be worn for up to 5 days maximum.

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PRESS TACKS

Press tacks deliver a significantly stronger stimulation compared to standard ear seeds, making them a preferred choice for those seeking more intense and focused acupressure benefits. They are designed to ensure a deeper engagement with the auricular points, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the treatment.
AcuKITS™ uses latex-free, stainless steel, sterile press tacks for one-time use only and can be worn for up to 3 days maximum. Must be purchased separately.

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History Of Auriculotherapy

Modern Auriculotherapy

Over 80% of ear acupuncture points were discovered in the last twenty years. Dr. Paul Nogier, a French acupuncturist and neurosurgeon, first explored the ear by combining scientific and traditional Chinese medicine principles, renewing interest in this area of Chinese medicine.
His work on the ear's link to the human embryo led to significant research in Mainland China, identifying about 200 ear points, many of which differ from Nogier's original findings. Studies have shown that both approaches are effective and complement each other in treating illnesses.
In Ancient China

In ancient China, diagnosing health by examining the ear was common. Although much information was lost in the "great burning of the books," some knowledge remains. For example, the Zen Zhi Zhun Sheng states that a bright, shiny ear helix shows good health, while a dry helix suggests imminent death. The Wang Zhen Zhun Jing notes that a darkened ear helix indicates poor digestion and a bumpy area may signal an intestinal abscess. Additionally, needling a point on the ear lobe was used to treat eye issues like pinkeye, myopia, and cataracts, with gold earrings often recommended to stimulate the brain's visual centers.
In Ancient India

Indian and Chinese traditional medicines share many similarities, such as concepts of vital energy (qi), the five elements theory, pulse diagnosis, and acupuncture. India has practiced acupuncture for about 7000 years, and it’s unclear whether it originated there or in China. Indian medical texts, known as the Vedas, mention "needle therapy," which predates Chinese medical texts by several millennia. One Veda, the Suchi Veda, written around 3000 years ago, focuses solely on acupuncture. Indians use both body and ear acupuncture points, employing similar techniques to the Chinese but with about half the number of points. They have around 180 body points used for acupuncture or moxibustion to treat various illnesses, from coughs to malaria.
The Arabs

The Arabs use not only cauterization of the ear to treat sciatica, but also bleeding of the ears in cases of high blood pressure or kidney and back pain. This is still common practice in the small villages of Syria and Lebanon. Although this may have been of Egyptian origin, we are certain that the Arabs had the entire science of acupuncture from the 13th century onward, when the Chinese medical books were translated into Arabic for reference in their medical schools.