Chronic Pain Institute

Pain and Auriculotherapy

By Paula Spaight, B.S., RDH, L. AC,

Auriculotherapy Research

The field of acupuncture includes the Microsystems of ear acupuncture, also known as auriculoacupuncture. Full body acupuncture uses 14 energy channels located from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. Auriculoacupuncture is based on an organized somatotopic map of the body, represented by an inverted fetus on each ear. This concept implies that the entire body can be diagnosed and treated via the ear. Diagnostics and treatments include musculoskeletal problems, neurovascular pathology and even visceral disorders. According to the principles of auriculotherapy, specific anatomical areas of each ear correspond to a specific anatomical part of the body. Areas of pathology have been shown to demonstrate a higher skin conductivity than surrounding areas. This phenomenon has been measured by objective instrumentation. A current study being undertaken in by this writer at the University of the Pacific in its Facial Pain Department has been designed to test and validate auriculoacupuncture, it’s use in clinical diagnostics and it’s ability to measure therapeutic intervention. Prior research by Oleson and Kroening at the UCLA Pain Center suggest both diagnostic and treatment benefits from auriculoacupuncture. Phase I of the study is focused on auriculodiagnostics. Phase II will focus on auriculotherapy.

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