Auricular

Auricular (or Ear) Acupuncture is a specialized complementary therapy where acupuncture points on the outer ear are treated, using either needles, seeds, or tacks to help relieve many chronic complaints.

There are as many as two hundred and fifty acupuncture points on the outer ear, each point named generally after areas of our anatomy, i.e. knees, hips, shoulders, liver, heart etc. The outer ear acts like a switchboard to the brain. Each acupoint on the ear, when treated, triggers electrical impulses, from the ear, via the brain, to the specific area the body that is being treated. Therefore if someone had a painful knee, for example, by treating the 'knee' acupoint on the ear, it would help alleviate the pain.

What is its Relationship to the Chinese Fetus Representation?

Take a look at the illustrated diagrams. The shape of the auricle (ear) clearly resembles a near-term fetus in the inverted position in the mother's womb. You will need to understand that the classic Chinese Acupuncture points on the ears are in a similar position to the various anatomical areas of the fetus.

For example, all the head acupoints are located on the ear lobe (ie. tonsils, throat, sinuses etc.).  The major organs of the fetus are located in the concha of the ear as are their acupoints (ie. lungs, heart, liver, etc.). The lower limbs of the fetus are positioned at the 'top' of the ear (ie. knees, toes, ankles etc.