Activating the Ear: Auricular Acupuncture

Auricular acupuncture is the practice of stimulating specific points along the outer ear, and is viewed as a full body approach to healing. Commonly used to treat insomnia, anxiety, stress, or addiction, regulate the nervous system, and support bodily functions, it is a non-invasive and gentle treatment that offers numerous benefits. Each point is believed to be connected by nerves and reflex pathways to different parts of the body, like the head, heart, spine, liver, stomach, and practitioners will use fine needles, tiny metal balls, ear seeds, or gentle electrostimulation as techniques to treat a patient’s specific needs. This acupuncture technique is gaining popularity in both Eastern and Western health traditions by combining the knowledge of traditional ear mapping with modern neural connections.

Source: TCMstudent.com

How it Works
Cranial nerves like the vagus nerve, trigeminal nerve, and facial nerve all have branches that reach the outer ear, and when they are stimulated, parts of the brain that regulate mood, stress, pain perception, and bodily regulation are stimulated. Stimulating points on the ear sends neurological signals through the nervous system, switching into a parasympathetic state, which promotes rest and relaxation. Endorphins are released that reduce pain and discomfort, and enhance feelings of well being. Released neurotransmitters and hormones regulate mood, sleep, and appetite, and stimulation of the vagus nerve balances heart rate, digestion, and inflammation.

Physical and Mental Ailments
Auricular acupuncture is beneficial for individuals seeking a natural treatment with minimal side effects, those healing from trauma, grief, or addiction, those experiencing chronic tension or burnout from a high stress lifestyle, or those with hormonal imbalances.

● Stimulating the musculoskeletal points relieves inflammation that causes back pain, sciatica, or joint discomfort

● Treats migraines and tension headaches

● Eases symptoms like bloating, gas, or sluggish digestion

● By shifting and balancing hormones, symptoms of menstruation and menopause are lessened

● Stimulating facial nerve points releases jaw clenching and treats TMJ

● Certain ear points reduce the fight-or-flight response, easing feelings of anxiety and panic attacks, and encourages relaxation

● Feelings of depression and low mood can be eased by balancing serotonin levels

● Physical aid for processing and regulating emotions

Benefits

● Relief from chronic and acute back, joint, or muscular pain

● Reduced anxiety and stress

● Improved, more restorative sleep

● Enhanced focus and mental clarity, reduced brain fog

● Support through addiction or withdrawal by easing cravings during recovery

● Regulates digestion and metabolism, aiding in weight loss and management

● Increased blood flow and circulation

Home Practice
Stimulation of auricular points can be self administered at home through the use of ear seeds and an ear acupressure point chart. Ear seeds are tiny balls made of either a plant called vaccaria or metal, and are adhered to ear acupressure points with tape. They are then gently pressed throughout the day to stimulate the points, and are often used after an acupuncture session to prolong the healing effects. More accessible points to reach include the Ear Shen Men, which calms the mind, eases anxiety, aids in better sleep, and lessens stress, and Point Zero, which balances the body’s energies.

Whether applied with needles or ear seeds, stimulation of points along the outer ear can provide immense relief from physical, mental, and emotional ailments. TCM teaches that pressure points connect the body through nerve pathways, and activation of certain points can bring your body back to balance. With a detailed chart or with a practitioner’s help, this practice is accessible to anyone and can be self administered.

References

● https://burlingtonacupuncture.com/health-well-news/auricular-acupuncture-what-it-is-and-why-is-everyone-talking-about-it/

● https://acaacupuncture.com/auricular-ear-acupuncture-what-it-treats-how-it-works-and-who-its-for/

● https://www.emmaquine.com/auricular-acupuncture

● https://www.alldeepmassage.com/ow-give-yourself-ear-acupressure/

Acupuncture for Menopause

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the period in a woman’s life after menstruation, when she is no longer fertile. As with the start of puberty, menopause brings about many changes in a woman’s body as hormones fluctuate and ovarian follicles become less active, creating different symptoms that are oftentimes uncomfortable. These changes come about around the age 45-55, and generally begin around 4 years before the last period. Menopause officially starts after one consecutive year without menstruating, and symptoms can last for around 4 years. Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, insomnia, vaginal dryness, reduced libido, painful intercourse, hair loss, hair growth in new places like the face, neck, chest, or upper back, depression, anxiety, sore or tender breasts, and many others. These symptoms vary from woman to woman, and also vary in severity as well.

While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a common treatment for menopause symptoms, acupuncture is another viable option for women who can’t, or don’t want to, use HRT. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is a time when women become Yin deficient, meaning the cooling, moistening, and calming aspects of their physiology are weakening. To treat this, TCM aims to nourish Yin/blood, move stagnant liver Qi, clear heat, calm the spirit/mind, and harmonize Yin and Yang. Menopause can cause stagnation, which leads to heat and Yin deficiency. Acupuncture helps move stagnation, offering relief from many symptoms.

Common Symptoms and Treatment

• Hot flashes/night sweats: Hot flashes are thought to be a result of hormonal changes and changes in the hypothalamus, which regulates temperature. Studies show that acupuncture affects hormones related to menopause and sleep, such as estrogen and melatonin. One study found that acupuncture decreased the secretion of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a vasodilating neuropeptide that has been shown to affect hot flashes. Acupuncture helps your body function better, and can help bring your body back to homeostasis in times of transition, like menopause. Menopause can cause a Yin imbalance, leading to excess stagnant heat in the body. Acupuncture can move that stagnant heat, offering relief.

• Pain: By placing needles at pressure points throughout the body, the central nervous system is stimulated to release pain - relieving chemicals like endorphins. The chemicals can help to alleviate aches and pains associated with menopause.

• Mood swings/ Anxiety: Menopause can cause mood swings because of hormonal changes or imbalances that occur at this time of transition. Acupuncture balances Qi, minimizes the frequency and intensity of mood swings, and increases endorphin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels, creating a positive mood. Researchers found that acupuncture alters neurotransmitters in the brain, alleviating conditions like anxiety and nervousness. Acupuncture can relax your body and relax your mind as well.

• Insomnia and Fatigue: Insomnia and fatigue associated with menopause can be caused by fluctuating hormone levels and sleep disturbances, like hot flashes or pain. Acupuncture increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure in your body, reducing fatigue-inducing stress, balances the nervous system, and releases nocturnal chemicals like melatonin, which aids in better sleep.

• Vaginal dryness: The hormonal imbalances caused by menopause can reduce the natural lubricant created by the vagina, leading to dryness or pain during sex. Estrogen is responsible for creating these lubricants, and with estrogen levels decreasing during menopause, vaginal fluid production decreases as well. Menopause causes a Yin deficiency, which is the moistening energy in the body. Acupuncture can bring the body back into harmony by balancing Yin depletion with Yang energy, restoring natural vaginal lubrication production.

Acupuncture is a safe, non-invasive, natural way to bring your body back into balance during times of transition and fluctuation, like menopause. By releasing various hormones like endorphins, dopamine, increasing blood flow, releasing stagnant heat, boosting melatonin production, and altering neurotransmitters in the brain to reduce feelings of anxiety, acupuncture can help treat many symptoms caused by menopause, and can offer great relief.

Schedule your next acupuncture session here!

Resources

“Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs for Menopause”. Retrieved from https://lotusleafacupuncture.com/tag/vaginal-dryness/.

“Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for Insomnia”/ Retrieved from https://www.morningsideacupuncturenyc.com/blog/acupuncture-and-chinese-medicine-for-insomnia.

“Acupuncture, as Practiced in Clinical Settings, May Significantly Improve Menopause-related Symptoms”. Retrieved from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/acupuncture-as-practiced-in-clinical-settings-may-significantly-improve-menopauserelated-symptoms.

“Acupuncture for Menopause: How This Alternative Therapy Brought Me Relief”. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/acupuncture-for-menopause-how-this-alternative-therapy-brought-me-relief#Acupuncture-benefits-for-menopause.

“Acupuncture Increases Nocturnal Melatonin Secretion and Reduces Insomnia and Anxiety: A Preliminary Report”. Retrieved from https://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/jnp.16.1.19.

“Acupuncture may ease troublesome menopausal symptoms”. Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/acupuncture-may-ease-troublesome-menopausal-symptoms/.

“Acupuncture Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats”. Retrieved from https://www.redpandaacupuncture.com/single-post/2018/03/08/acupuncture-treatments-for-hot-flashes-and-night-sweats.

“Let's Talk About Vaginal Dryness”. Retrieved from http://www.sweetbeetacupuncture.com/blog/2017/12/11/vaginal-dryness.

“Perimenopause: 5 Ways Acupuncture Can Help”. Retrieved from https://encircleacupuncture.com/perimenopause-5-ways-acupuncture-can-help/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20acupuncture,energy%20levels%20during%20the%20day.

“Treatment of Mood Swings With Acupuncture”. Retrieved from https://www.amcollege.edu/blog/treatment-of-mood-swings-with-acupuncture#:~:text=Balancing%20the%20energetic%20qi%20flow,recommended%20by%20your%20acupuncture%20physician.

The Healing Benefits of Evil Bone Water

Evil Bone Water, or Zheng Xie Gu Shui, is an herbal liniment made with Chinese herbs to relieve pain and inflammation. It was created by Dr. Mark Brinson, an acupuncturist and herbalist from Georgia. Based on a 500 year old Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recipe initially intended to heal broken bones, his Evil Bone Water is made with the highest quality Empirical Chinese herbs for optimal healing. Evil Bone Water is known for its analgesic properties, as well as for soothing inflammation. This recipe is rooted in the martial arts tradition of China and is used to treat bumps and bruises from the practice, meaning Evil Bone Water is great for athletes to use to heal injuries.

Common Treatments

• Sports and accidental injuries

• Sprains

• Muscle cramps

• Insect bites

• Tick repellant

• Broken bones

• Bruises

• Inflammation

• Carpal Tunnel

• Arthritis

• Mild topical anesthetic

• Stop bleeding

• Prevents Facial Staph

• Antiviral and Antifungal

How to Use

• Lightly moisten a cotton ball or gauze, or spray directly on the affected area if you have a spray nozzle.

• You should experience relief fairly quickly and a numbing effect for around 45 minutes. Repeat 2-4x a day.

• Do not apply to open wounds.

• For topical use only. Do NOT ingest.

• EBW changes skin permeability, meaning that it quickly penetrates the skinand also draws other things in with it. If you are using anything else topically, like essential oils, they will permeate the skin faster if used with EBW.

• EBW can be used on the entire body or in foot baths, and again will enhance absorption of anything else used in the bath. If using a muscle soak formulated with magnesium and essential oils, the healing properties of the ingredients will reach the muscles faster when paired with EBW.

• Bathe dogs in a bath with a small amount of EBW to repel ticks and soothe skin irritation.

Super Ingredients and their Benefits

• San Qi (Notoginseng, Pseudoginseng): stops bleeding, reduces swelling, relieves pain.

• Gui Pi (Cinnamon Bark): relaxes the muscles, promotes circulation, and warms channels.

• E Zhu (Zedoary Rhizome, Rhizoma Curcumae): promotes the circulation of qi and blood, alleviates pain.

• Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma): anti-inflammatory, decreases swelling, alleviates pain.

• Hu Zhang (Knotweed Rhizome): invigorates blood and stops pain.

• Bai Nui Dan (Inula Cappa DC): reduces joint pain, dispels wind, reduces dampness.

• Qian Jin Ba (Philippine Flemingia Root): strengthens connective tissue, decreases inflammation, relieves arthritis and bone pain.

• Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root, Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis): decreases inflammation, reduces swelling.

• Zhang Nao (Camphor): topical analgesic, helps improve circulation.

• Bo He Nao (Menthol): topical analgesic, cooling, heat clearing, and allows other herbs to permeate the skin.

Limitations and Contraindications

• Since EBW is a topical analgesic, it works best for treating more surface level injuries or ailments than deep internal injuries or ailments.

• EBW is considered broad-spectrum, but if you use it repeatedly enough and notice little effect, it might not be the proper treatment.

• Do not use over sacrum or abdomen while pregnant.

• Do not wrap in plastic and use as a compress

• Is safe for use on children, but watch for irritation. Can be used on the face with care.

Resources

Brinson, Mark. “Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from http://podcast.tcmstudy.net/podcast/evil-bone-water.

Budiash, Elyse. “Evil Bone Water—Chinese Herbal Liniment Magic for Pain Relief”. Retrieved from https://www.cherryblossomhealingarts.com/chronic-and-acute-pain/evil-bone-water.

“Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from ttps://www.evilbonewater.com/.

“Evil Bone Water (Zheng Gu Shui) FAQ”. Retrieved from https://valleyhealthclinic.clarkfivedesign.opalstacked.com/evil-bone-water-zheng-gu-shui-faq/.

“Pain Relief: Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from https://theacupuncturistni.com/pain-relief/evil-bone-water.

“Stop Pain With Evil Bone Water”. Retrieved from https://optimal-movement.com/evil-bone-water/.