Acupuncture & Auriculotherapy
General overview
Acupuncture is a Chinese technique, whose original name is Zhen Jiu, meaning "art of metal needles and moxibustion. »
Using needles, moxa, suction cups and massage, the acupuncturist accompanies the patient "on the path to balance".
Auriculotherapy is a special acupuncture technique in which the therapist stimulates certain points around or in the patient's ear. The objective is to detect and correct certain imbalances. The axiom of this technique is that the ear represents a dashboard of the human body, and that many ailments can be resolved through the ear. It was officially recognized by the WHO in 1990, which defined 43 ear points.
Main objectives of the method
Auriculotherapy :
Restoring homeostasis by stimulating the brain stem which houses the nuclei of several cranial nerves, some of which (V, VII, IV, X) innervate the ear pavilions.
Stimulation of the auricles therefore indirectly stimulates the brain stem. The brain stem is itself an interface between the brain and the spinal cord, itself connected to the whole body (limbs, trunk, viscera...).
Consequently, the stimulation of the external ears can have consequences on the ascending and descending pathways of the brain, thus influencing the homeostasis of the whole body.
Targeted results
Neuromodulation of the major neurological functions: sensoriality, motricity, tonicity, posture, sensitivity, cognition...
Pain reduction, nerve wave stimulation, improved sleep, reduced anxiety...
Specificities of the method
Acupuncture
An acupuncture session for children takes place differently from a session for adults. Very small needles can be held in place with a pantyhose, leaving the child free to move and have fun while the treatment is taking place.
Auriculotherapy
During an auriculotherapy session, the practitioner acts through needles, massage or laser.
Who is this method for ?
Acupuncture and auriculotherapy are primarily intended for people suffering from pain, stress, anxiety or sleep disorders.
What parents say about it
The treatment is adapted according to the baby's age and needs. The baby can be treated in the arms of one of the parents, if necessary. It is also possible to breastfeed the baby or give him a bottle during treatment. The baby can be treated in the first weeks of life.
Scientific references
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the practice of auriculotherapy
Does acupuncture help patients with spasticity? A narrative review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30408516
Auriculotherapy stimulation for neuro-rehabilitation. Oleson T. NeuroRehabilitation. 2002;17(1):49-62.
Scientific Basis of Auriculotherapy: State of the Art. Rabischong P, Terral C. Med Acupunct. 2014 Apr 1;26(2):84-96.
Electric stimulation of the ears ameliorated learning and memory impairment in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Kuo CT, Lin YW, Tang NY, Cheng CY, Hsieh CL. Sci Rep. 2016 Feb 5;6:20381.
Long-term electrical stimulation at ear and electro-acupuncture at ST36-ST37 attenuated COX-2 in the CA1 of hippocampus in kainic acid-induced epileptic seizure rats. Liao ET, Tang NY, Lin YW, Liang Hsieh C. Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 28;7(1):472.
The auriculo-vagal afferent pathway and its role in seizure suppression in rats. He W, Jing XH, Zhu B, Zhu XL, Li L, Bai WZ, Ben H. BMC Neurosci. 2013 Aug 9;14:85. doi: 10.1186/1471-2202-14-85.
Auricular acupuncture with seed or pellet attachments for primary insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lan Y, Wu X, Tan HJ, Wu N, Xing JJ, Wu FS, Zhang LX, Liang FR. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015 Apr 2;15:103.
Ear Acupuncture for Immediate Pain Relief-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Murakami M, Fox L, Dijkers MP. Pain Med. 2017 Mar 1;18(3):551-564.
Auricular Acupressure Can Modulate Pain Threshold. Santoro A, Nori SL, Lorusso L, Secondulfo C, Monda M, Viggiano A. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:457390.
Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation modulates amygdala functional connectivity in patients with depression. Liu J, Fang J, Wang Z, Rong P, Hong Y, Fan Y, Wang X, Park J, Jin Y, Liu C, Zhu B, Kong J. J Affect Disord. 2016 Nov 15;205:319-326.
Complementary effects of auricular acupressure in relieving constipation symptoms and promoting disease-specific health-related quality of life: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. Li MK, Lee TF, Suen KP. Complement Ther Med. 2014 Apr;22(2):266-77.
Ear acupuncture and fMRI: a pilot study for assessing the specificity of auricular points. Romoli M, Allais G, Airola G, Benedetto C, Mana O, Giacobbe M, Pugliese AM, Battistella G, Fornari E. Neurol Sci. 2014 May;35 Suppl 1:189-93.
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Any remarks or comments ?
This work is based on a collaborative approach to sharing research and family experience.
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