Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture

Auricular acupuncture is a therapy based on the theory that the ear is a micro system of the entire body. Symptoms and illnesses can be relieved and/or treated by stimulating points of the ear. Often, these points become active or sensitive when that area of the body or mind needs treating.

I use auricular points alongside body points to enhance your overall treatment. Auricular points can often be easier to access than some body points. They add an additional dimension to treatments.

As as well needles, I use ear seeds and magnets on ear points which are held in place by small plasters. These are left on the points for you to press between treatments to keep the point stimulated between appointments. This gives a longer lasting, continual treatment.

Auricular acupuncture treatments

Auricular acupuncture treatments are used alongside body acupuncture points in regular acupuncture treatments. But, there are specific treatments available.

A course of specific auricular acupuncture treatments is available for each of the following areas:

• Stopping smoking
• Weight loss and over eating
• Gaming and gambling addiction
• Insomnia

Moxibustion

Moxibustion, or Moxa for short, is a Chinese herb made from common mugwort (artemsia vulgaris). It is an external treatment based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine and used for over 2500 years to prevent and cure diseases.

Moxa is used in most areas of treatment, but can be particularly useful for diseases such as osteoarthritis, muscular and joint pain, soft tissue injury, asthma, urinary retention, period pains, diarrhoea, weakness and fatigue. It is used to turn a breech baby, or baby in malposition during pregnancy.

Moxa is incredibly nourishing, warming and smells wonderful.

There are various types and methods of moxa, either loose moxa or it is compacted in to a moxa stick for use on larger areas of the body.

Moxa sticks are good for clearing skin conditions including:

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• bedsores
• infected scar tissue
• tooth-ache
• boils
• Spots and pimples
• Cuts and blisters
• Viral complaints such as herpes and shingles
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Loose Moxibustion and Moxibustion sticks

Loose moxa is rolled in to cones and places directly on to an acupuncture point on the skin and ignited.

The moxa warms the point before needling and the moxa is removed before any heat touches the skin.

Moxibustion sticks are lit and kept at certain distance from the skin and work wonders for warming areas of pain.

Moxibustion treatment for malposition and breech babies during pregnancy

A moxibustion stick can also be used in treatment to turn malposition or breech babies. The stick is used to indirectly warm a powerful acupuncture point on the end of the little toe with the aim of drawing the baby’s head downwards. It is a very safe and natural way to turn a breech baby without the need for medical intervention.

The optimum time to carry out the moxibustion treatment during pregnancy is around 34 weeks, but can be effective as late as 38-39 weeks. One treatment is required in clinic to be shown how to use the moxibustion, then treatment is continued at home for ten days. Moxibustion should only be used to try and turn twins with consent of your midwife.

Cupping and Gua sha

Cupping and Gua sha have been used for centuries in East Asia to remove stagnation in the body. Both use different techniques to move blood, improve circulation and relieve pain.

Both techniques can be used alone or alongside acupuncture needles. They help relieve the symptoms of chronic and acute pain and stiff, tight muscles and can also aid the immune system to encourage the release of symptoms such as coughs, colds and breathing difficulties.

What is cupping?

Cupping is a widely-used technique that involves applying a vacuum to the skin in the form of a glass or plastic cup and air is removed. The cup is either left in place for several minutes or moved around the affected body part providing a pleasant massage-like sensation.

The cup draws blood to the area, nourishes the muscles, removes stagnation from the area and helps to relieve pain.

Cupping does leave a bruise-like mark on the skin, but this will usually disappear within 2-3 days.

Benefits of cupping

• Encourages overall circulation
• Alleviates adhesions by lifting, separating and hydrating the muscle tissues
• Clears inflammation, congestion and stagnation of the skin, muscles, bones, joints and organs
• Reduces pain by releasing tension
• Rebuilds healthy tissue and helps the body to regenerate
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What is Gua Sha?

Like cupping, Gua sha is a healing technique that draws blood to the area, nourishes the muscles and removes stagnation. Instead of a cup, a ‘press-stroking’ technique using an instrument is applied to a lubricated area of the body.

Gua sha can relieve symptoms including:

• Neck and shoulder pain
• Back pain
• Headaches and migraine
• Jaw clenching
• Frozen shoulder
• Tennis or golfers elbow
• Soft tissue injury
• Spondylosis
• Scoliosis
• Upper respiratory infections or difficulty breathing

Gua sha leaves a red, bruise-like mark on the surface of the skin which disappears after 2-3 days. The marks are not painful. These marks are a good indicator of what is happening in the body and where the stagnation is situated.

Patients request Gua sha to relive tight muscles alongside their acupuncture treatment.