Getting an earful of earmarks

By Zhang Qian | 2009-11-24 | NEWSPAPER EDITION

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WANT to lose weight, move your bowels or ease menstrual cramps? Rub your ears. The ear is an acupuncture microcosm of the body. Zhang Qian lends an ear.

The ear contains more than 200 acupuncture points and rubbing or piercing certain areas can improve health, according to traditional Chinese medicine.

TCM considers the ear (erduo) to be a microcosm of the human body and has identified very specific points that correspond to and influence body parts and functions.

There are spots that when stimulated influence sneezing, heart and lungs, memory, insomnia, armpits, complexion, liver, libido, tonsils, sciatic nerve, colon (constipation), hunger-appetite and so on.

We've all seen people with acupuncture staples in their ears as part of a stop-smoking effort. The staples are supposed to stimulate areas that suppress cravings for nicotine (or food).

Since it's practically impossible for laymen to precisely target the tiny points, generalized rubbing can help.

Ear acupuncture is also used to aid weight loss by suppressing appetite. It can also be used to prevent or ease menstrual cramps (there's a point for genitalia).

It seems fanciful to Westerners, but TCM holds that the structure of the ear resembles an upside-down fetus in the uterus and certain points on the ear correspond to points on the fetus, which represents the human body.

The ear is used as a health barometer and diagnostic tool.

"Kidneys (urinary and reproductive systems) open at the ear and the ear is where all meridians come together," according to "Huangdi Neijing," or "Medical Classic of the Yellow Emperor," the 2,000-year-old foundational text of TCM.

TCM uses ear acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, and er tie (sticking tiny beads on acupuncture points).

Acupressure is the easiest DIY therapy. Press the points with thumb or forefinger tips. It's best to press increasingly hard until the area of the ear feels sore, numb or burning. Simply pulling and rubbing the entire ear can stimulate blood circulation and aid general well being.

Moxibustion (this is more difficult at home) is more suitable for the elderly and the weak who are deficient in energy. They may simultaneously feel dizzy, fatigued and short of breath.

Moxibustion involves burning a moxa herb stick above the skin, sometimes along with acupuncture. As moxibustion usually covers a relatively large area, it's not necessary to find the precise acupuncture point.

Light a moxa stick and hold it two to three centimeters above the skin, pointing at the general ear location (this is true for other parts of the body as well).

Move the stick slightly, changing the distance repeatedly. Do this once a day for 10-15 minutes each time, until the skin gets red but not burning and painful.

Do it as long as necessary.

As for acupuncture and er tie (seed therapy), leave it to a TCM professional as needles (sterile) and seeds need to be applied accurately.

Tiny plant seeds or beads are widely used for er tie therapy. A doctor affixes the seeds to the ear with an adhesive. Then all the patient need do is press and rub for two or three minutes until the area feels tender and warm. It is usually applied to one ear at a time, for one week an ear.

Here are some therapy tips from Walter Hartenbach in his book "Was Ohren Verraten" ("The Secrets Revealed by the Ear: Personality, Talent and Health") published in August.

Laxative

Rubbing the ear can help relieve constipation. Patients should also eat fiber-rich foods, such as bananas, eat regular meals and exercise regularly.

Dachang xue (large intestine point), zhichang xue (rectum point) and jiaogan xue (sympathetic nervous system) are the spots that can stimulate bowels. Acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion or er tie can be used.

The points are located in the relatively upper part of the ear, the "belly" of the up-side-down fetus.