A Few Little Ear Points Can Help
Reflexology represents a wide array of effective therapies. When people think of Reflexology they usually think of zones in the feet that effect the organs or sometimes even the hands. There are reflexology zones all over the body, including points in your abdomen (hara), head, hands, feet, spine, nose, the front of your torso, and your ears. I will go into each individual reflexology modality in the future, but for today, we’ll focus on identifying and utilizing the reflexology points in your ears. Stimulating reflexology points in your ears is called “auricular therapy.”
The practice of reflexology began as the identification of what is called “assessment points,” or basically, points that can identify illness and imbalance in other parts of your body. Each point in the ear correlates to an organ, body part or system of the body. These points can correspond to your hips, your head, your endocrine system, your reproductive system, your legs, your heart, and almost any other body part or body system you can think of.
The practice of reflexology began as the identification of what is called “assessment points,” or basically, points that can identify illness and imbalance in other parts of your body. Each point in the ear correlates to an organ, body part or system of the body. These points can correspond to your hips, your head, your endocrine system, your reproductive system, your legs, your heart, and almost any other body part or body system you can think of.
As this system evolved, practitioners discovered that auricular (ear) points could be used to treat imbalances in the stomach by stimulating the stomach point in the ear as well as other associated points. Issues relating to the heart could be addressed by stimulating the Shen Men point. Shen means spirit in Chinese Medicine and is used to treat the heart where it is said the spirit resides. In time, entire therapies developed around the auricular ear points, touching no other body part than the ear. (Like in other reflexology disciplines which include the hands, the feet, or whichever reflexology method that particular therapist wanted to engage in.)
Is Auricular Therapy peer reviewed and proven to be efficacious? Yes. New research has proven that regular auricular reflexology treatments can reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Of note is the Department of Defense interest in Auricular therapies. Recently the DOD allocated 5 million dollars to train physicians in Auricular Therapy PTSD protocols to help reduce PTSD in active duty military and veterans at home.
The 5 Ear Points that are used in PTSD Relief are:
Through research these five points have been shown to produce endocrine, biochemical, emotional, neurophysiological and biochemical effects "The PTSD protocol is shown to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms associated with addictive substance use. It is consistently and reliably associated with improving engagement and retention (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006; Helms, 1997). This is not a stand-alone treatment."
Many other imbalances can be treated similarly if the practitioner knows which points and how the body should be addressed. These issues include imbalances in the endocrine system, pain suppression from injuries, appetite suppression, and depression just to name a few.
For endocrine imbalances, the ‘endocrine point’ is located just inside the intertragic notch, and can help your body regain a natural hormonal balance. Stimulate that point several times per day, for approximately thirty to sixty seconds for self-care.
There is evidence that basic forms of reflexology were documented as long as 5,000 years ago. This incredible practice has helped people for millennia and will continue to do so for years to come. Students at ATIT are thoroughly trained in all forms of reflexology, including Auricular Therapies, as well as the assessment tools needed to ensure that their clients receive therapies that will best help each individual, not a standard protocol.
Auricular Reflexology is an incredible way for professionals to work with the body or for laypeople to apply it as self care for themselves and their loved ones. There are many ways to stimulate individual Auricular Reflexology points. The most common is by using acupuncture needles, but you can also use a stylus to press into the individual points, vacarrea seeds which act as an analgesic or metal beads that stimulate and promote enhanced function of the correlating reflex points organ or body system. Just as with foot or hand reflexology, Auricular Ear Reflexology can have profound impacts on the body. In fact, many practitioners feel that Auricular Ear Reflexology works far better than hand or foot reflexology.
Students at ATIT learn how to help enhance overall health with a specialty focus to address PTSD, addiction, pain suppression, injury rehabilitation, appetite suppression and hormonal balancing. Research has proven 5 little ear points can help alleviate many related symptoms that go a long with in reducing our surging epidemics of PTSD & addiction.
Until next time,
Kim M. Green, Founder
www.advancedtherapyinstitute.net
Kim is the Founder and Senior Instructor at Advanced Therapy Institute of Touch. She teaches laypeople and professionals alike advanced bodywork techniques which utilize Integrative Meridian Therapy, Hara Assessment, Somatic Trauma Release therapies, Japanese/Chinese Practices and rehabilitative forms of bodywork. She loves teaching practitioners to assist their clients in releasing long-held chronic injury, traumas or somato-emotional patterns that reduce a persons ability to enjoy their lives fully. At ATIT, we believe "All Things Are Possible!" Check out our School Tour. For information on taking ATIT's Auricular Reflexology Class go to this link.
Is Auricular Therapy peer reviewed and proven to be efficacious? Yes. New research has proven that regular auricular reflexology treatments can reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Of note is the Department of Defense interest in Auricular therapies. Recently the DOD allocated 5 million dollars to train physicians in Auricular Therapy PTSD protocols to help reduce PTSD in active duty military and veterans at home.
The 5 Ear Points that are used in PTSD Relief are:
- Sympathetic
- Shen Men
- Kidney
- Liver
- Lung
Through research these five points have been shown to produce endocrine, biochemical, emotional, neurophysiological and biochemical effects "The PTSD protocol is shown to reduce craving and withdrawal symptoms associated with addictive substance use. It is consistently and reliably associated with improving engagement and retention (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006; Helms, 1997). This is not a stand-alone treatment."
Many other imbalances can be treated similarly if the practitioner knows which points and how the body should be addressed. These issues include imbalances in the endocrine system, pain suppression from injuries, appetite suppression, and depression just to name a few.
For endocrine imbalances, the ‘endocrine point’ is located just inside the intertragic notch, and can help your body regain a natural hormonal balance. Stimulate that point several times per day, for approximately thirty to sixty seconds for self-care.
There is evidence that basic forms of reflexology were documented as long as 5,000 years ago. This incredible practice has helped people for millennia and will continue to do so for years to come. Students at ATIT are thoroughly trained in all forms of reflexology, including Auricular Therapies, as well as the assessment tools needed to ensure that their clients receive therapies that will best help each individual, not a standard protocol.
Auricular Reflexology is an incredible way for professionals to work with the body or for laypeople to apply it as self care for themselves and their loved ones. There are many ways to stimulate individual Auricular Reflexology points. The most common is by using acupuncture needles, but you can also use a stylus to press into the individual points, vacarrea seeds which act as an analgesic or metal beads that stimulate and promote enhanced function of the correlating reflex points organ or body system. Just as with foot or hand reflexology, Auricular Ear Reflexology can have profound impacts on the body. In fact, many practitioners feel that Auricular Ear Reflexology works far better than hand or foot reflexology.
Students at ATIT learn how to help enhance overall health with a specialty focus to address PTSD, addiction, pain suppression, injury rehabilitation, appetite suppression and hormonal balancing. Research has proven 5 little ear points can help alleviate many related symptoms that go a long with in reducing our surging epidemics of PTSD & addiction.
Until next time,
Kim M. Green, Founder
www.advancedtherapyinstitute.net
Kim is the Founder and Senior Instructor at Advanced Therapy Institute of Touch. She teaches laypeople and professionals alike advanced bodywork techniques which utilize Integrative Meridian Therapy, Hara Assessment, Somatic Trauma Release therapies, Japanese/Chinese Practices and rehabilitative forms of bodywork. She loves teaching practitioners to assist their clients in releasing long-held chronic injury, traumas or somato-emotional patterns that reduce a persons ability to enjoy their lives fully. At ATIT, we believe "All Things Are Possible!" Check out our School Tour. For information on taking ATIT's Auricular Reflexology Class go to this link.
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