The small ear
has great therapeutic effects
Perhaps many people do not know
the “ear apex bloodletting”
this magical TCM therapy
Let me introduce it to you.
01
Ear Apex Bloodletting
According to the ancient Chinese theory of “pricking and bloodletting”: the ear apex point bloodletting therapy, also known as “bloodletting therapy”, is based on the principles of “to treat the disease, one must first remove the blood” and “draining heat through blood”, and “blood stasis should be resolved”.
The principle of pricking and bloodletting is to: unblock the meridians, invigorate blood circulation, harmonize Qi and blood, and drain heat, with the aim of promoting the normal flow of Qi and blood to achieve recovery. The ear apex point is the highest point of the auricle, uniquely located in the Yang position. The three Yang meridians of the hands and feet are all connected to the ear, and since the Yang meridians can treat febrile diseases, bloodletting can serve to drain heat.
Image source: Personal library
1
Clinical Applications
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High fever
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Acute conjunctivitis (commonly known as pink eye)
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Epidemic mumps
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Hordeolum (stye)
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Oral ulcers
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Acne
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Insomnia
2
Contraindications and Precautions
1. Caution for certain populations: Those with allergic constitutions, bleeding tendencies, chronic illness with deficiency, anemia, and low blood pressure.
2. Prohibited for: Those who are overly hungry, overly full, heavily intoxicated, excessively sweating, extremely angry, overly fatigued, pregnant women, those with habitual miscarriage, women during menstruation, severe heart, liver, or kidney failure, coagulation disorders, spontaneous bleeding tendencies, and those with bleeding that does not stop after injury, as well as patients with hemangiomas.
3. It is not recommended to perform ear apex bloodletting at home to avoid infection; it should be done in a proper hospital after assessment and diagnosis by a doctor, and performed by qualified medical personnel. The instruments and ear apex must be strictly disinfected, actions should be swift, and the technique should be light, quick, shallow, and precise, with minimal bleeding.
02
Ear Acupoint Bean Embedding
1. Overview of Ear Acupoints
When the body is ill, corresponding “positive reaction” points appear in the auricle, such as tenderness, deformation, discoloration, nodules, and low electrical resistance. These reaction points are called stimulation points, also known as “ear acupoints”.
2. Ear Acupoint Bean Embedding
To achieve sustained stimulation in the local area, clinical practice uses seeds of Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccaria segetalis) and attaches them to the ear acupoint area, secured with small adhesive tape, known as “ear acupoint bean embedding”.
The following conditions can be tried with bean embedding!
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Insomnia
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High blood pressure
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Dysmenorrhea
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Headache
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Weight loss
The following content is recommended for healthcare professionals to review
Interested individuals may want to take a look!
1
Clinical Applications of Ear Acupoint Bean Embedding and Corresponding Acupoints
1. Respiratory System
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Bronchial asthma: bronchus, lung, adrenal gland, prostate, endocrine, sympathetic, Shenmen, and for relieving asthma.
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Chronic bronchitis: Shenmen, liver, kidney, subcortex, endocrine, adrenal gland, for relieving asthma, lung.
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Cough: relieving asthma, adrenal gland, throat, lung, occiput.
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Common cold: nasal cavity, adrenal gland, bronchus, lung.
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Bronchitis: bronchus, Shenmen, relieving asthma, adrenal gland.
2. Cardiovascular System
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Hypertension: unilateral ear pressure-reducing groove, pressure-reducing point, Shenmen, endocrine, brain, postauricular kidney point, sympathetic, liver, kidney, Shenmen, ear back heart, ear back groove.
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Palpitations: heart, sympathetic, subcortex.
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Chest tightness: sympathetic, heart, chest, lung, relieving asthma.
3. Digestive System
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Dyspepsia: small intestine, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen.
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Abdominal pain: abdominal point, abdominal pain point, spleen back point.
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Constipation: selected points: lung, stomach, large intestine, small intestine, sanjiao, Shenmen, lower rectum, subcortex, constipation point.
4. Nervous System
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Migraine: Taiyang, Shenmen, kidney, subcortex.
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Insomnia: Shenmen, subcortex, occiput, anterior pituitary, insomnia (main point), heart, liver, spleen, kidney, gallbladder, stomach (associated points).
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Headache: brain, occiput, frontal, temporal, subcortex, Shenmen.
5. Endocrine System
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Spontaneous sweating:
lung, sympathetic, kidney (main point), endocrine, adrenal gland, sanjiao (associated points). Function to regulate Yin and Yang and Yingwei. Treats spontaneous sweating and night sweats.
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Weight loss:
(1) Select ear acupoints: endocrine, thalamus, ovary, brain point, hunger point, thirst point, Shenmen, stomach, etc.
(2) Select stomach point, spleen point, endocrine point.
(3) Main points: lung, spleen, kidney, sanjiao, endocrine; associated points can include liver, stomach, Shenmen, subcortex, hunger point. Weight loss: internal reproductive organs, kidney, large intestine, sanjiao, endocrine, middle edge, abdomen, cheeks.
6. Gynecological Regulation
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Menstrual irregularities: main points: kidney, uterine appendages, pelvis, endocrine, adrenal gland, subcortex, ovary. Associated points: diaphragm, heart, liver, spleen, low back pain point.
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Amenorrhea: endocrine, uterus, kidney, ovary, liver.
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Dysmenorrhea: uterus, sympathetic, liver, gallbladder, kidney, abdomen, endocrine, adrenal gland, pressure-reducing groove, ear root point. Press daily more than 10 times, press more if it hurts. Function to regulate menstruation and relieve pain.
2
Operational Precautions
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During the ear acupoint bean embedding period, patients may feel local heat, swelling, numbness, pain, or sensations along the meridians.
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Transmission conduction is “obtaining Qi”, and local skin conditions should be closely monitored.
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The local skin should not be wet, press once every 4 hours to enhance efficacy.
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Each ear auricle should have no more than 10 seeds applied at a time. Leave the seeds for 3-5 days; in hot weather or excessive sweating, the time can be shortened.
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Pregnant women should use light stimulation techniques for ear acupoint bean embedding, and those with a history of habitual miscarriage should be cautious.
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After embedding the seeds, self-massage should focus on pressing, and avoid rubbing to prevent skin damage and ear acupoint infection.
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Leave the seeds for 3-5 days. During this period, repeatedly press with the hand to stimulate local acupoints, 1-2 minutes per time, 2-3 times a day.
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Regular stimulation: pinch the pressed seeds with the thumb and index finger in front and behind the auricle, alternating between squeezing and releasing.
3
Ear Acupoint Contraindications
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There are eczema, ulcers, or frostbite on the auricle.
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Habitual miscarriage, women during pregnancy, especially at acupoints related to the uterus, ovaries, endocrine, and kidneys are prohibited.
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Those who are elderly, weak, or have severe organic diseases should use with caution.
Did you gain something after reading?
Next time if you experience related symptoms,
you can try the above therapies!
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Source: Emergency Department of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Shenzhen Hospital
Author: Zhou Ying
Initial Review: Wu Zeming
Editor: New Media TeamRecheck: Liu QingqingAudit: Ma XiaoqunImages provided by the department unless otherwise notedIf there is any infringement, please inform us for deletion