What is Acupuncture?
The word Acupuncture comes from the Latin words ‘acus’ – needle and ‘pungere’ - to prick. It is a technique of inserting and manipulating fine needles into specific points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. Acupuncture has a history that dates back to the Stone Age where the use of ‘bian shi’ or sharpened stones dates back to the Han dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). It was popularized in the United States, during President Nixon’s visit to China in 1970 following an article in the New York Times by a journalist who received acupuncture for post-operative pain after an appendectomy.
What is Microsystem Acupuncture?
Microsystems are a subset of Acupuncture Theory where the whole body is treated by using a single part. Ralph Dale from the United States discovered that every part of the gross anatomy can function as an energetic system for diagnosis and therapy. There are a number of established Microsystems of Acupuncture practiced throughout the United Kingdom. The most well known and widely practiced is Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture.
What is Auricular Acupuncture?
Auricular Acupuncture whilst originally based upon the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture, has its origins in Modern Europe. In 1957 Dr. Paul Nogier, a neurologist from Lyons in France, observed a locum doctor treating sciatica by cauterizing an area of the ear. This prompted extensive research culminating in the development of the somatopic correspondence of specific parts of the body to the ear based upon the concept of an inverted foetus. Dr. Nogier believed that pain and other symptoms in the body could be alleviated by needling, massaging or electronically stimulating the corresponding region of the ear.
Auricular Acupuncture is a specialized complementary therapy where acupuncture points on the outer ear are treated, using either needles or acupunctoscopes (electrical location and stimulation machines) to help relieve many chronic complaints.
There are over 200 acupuncture points on the ear, each point named after an area of our anatomy. The outer ear acts like a switchboard to the brain. Each acupuncture point being treated, triggers electrical impulses from the ear via the brain, to the specific part of the body being treated. Clinical Reports demonstrate that acupuncture
• Stimulates the production of pain modulators
• Regulates blood pressure
• Regulates seratonin
• Regulates the sympathetic nervous system
• Enhances the immune system
• Reduces the allergic response
How is Auricular Acupuncture used?
Auricular Acupuncture is widely used throughout the United Kingdom to treat people with a variety of conditions. It is most commonly known for the treatment of smoking cessation, weight loss and substance misuse, and has been growing steadily since the 1970’s. It is now considered to be the standard acupuncture treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, however it forms the basis of a number of protocols used in the treatment of Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia and Pain Management.
Auricular Acupuncture Detox has been recommended by the Department of Health as appropriate for the treatment of clients in Tiers 1 – 4 of their model multi-disciplinary treatment framework. (Department of Health 2002).
One of the significant advantages of Auricular Acupuncture treatment is that it is complementary to conventional treatments and easily integrates into a variety of multi-disciplinary programmes.
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SOCIETY OF AURICULAR ACUPUNCTURISTS
