This evidence-based book explains how stimulation of the ear improves pain and other somatic symptoms, boosts the immune system, and enhances psychological wellbeing. While honoring its roots, the book demystifies ear acupuncture by describing the complex and delicate network of nerves leading signals from the ear to the brain. It describes how ear acupuncture, ear acupressure (by beads, seeds or magnets) and electrical stimulation in the ear (transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, taVNS) modulates neurotransmitters and hormones in a beneficial way so that symptoms decrease, giving an understanding of how powerful treatment of the ear can be.
The book gives hands-on instructions, including a detailed manual for ear acupuncture and ear acupressure in symptoms that health professionals often encounter: pain, migraine, sleep, anxiety and depression, neurological diseases including epilepsy, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, withdrawal symptoms and drug craving, allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal, urological, gynecological and pregnancy related problems. The suggestion of points is based on research, referring to hundreds of scientific articles and reporting the level of evidence for each symptom. Finally, the book discusses the rationality of using ear acupuncture and ear acupressure as an adjunct in a wide variety of health care settings. The book is useful for all health care professionals, including acupuncturists, students and decisionmakers.
