As more people realise the benefits of auricular acupuncture the more widely it is being used. Doctors are taking training to help with common ailments such as nausea and arthritis, and more therapists are offering it to clients who have ‘tried everything else in the book’.

A NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) report states that acupuncture, among other complementary therapies, has been proven as an effective treatment for many conditions including anxiety, migraine, headaches, arthritis, weight loss, digestive disorders and allergies, among others. It is a therapy which is being seen in more and more places.

Helen Thompson a qualified auricular acupuncturist provides treatment sessions from Northumbria Counselling and Psychotherapy's therapy rooms.

To make an appointment email:info@northumbriacounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk

Both body and auricular acupuncture have their origins in China dating back more than 4000 years.
In more recent times, scientific experiments carried out in Europe, America and China have shown that there is a close physiological relationship between specific areas on the ears and body. The ears are packed with nerve endings and blood vessels, and are made up of cartilage and covered by skin, thick in some places and thin in others. In Traditional Chinese Medicine professionals talk about meridian pathways. These are invisible channels in which ‘Chi’ or energy runs through the body.

In the West we like to recognise - see, feel or touch - before we fully understand a concept. For this reason we say that acupuncture is used on specific nerve pathways.
Along these there are specific points which lie 3mm deep and are only 0.2mm across and more than 200 are located all over the ears.
When a needle is inserted into a point, messages are sent along the nerve pathways and to the brain. Here, the messages are sifted and the brain triggers the production, or indeed ceases production, of natural hormones and substances that the body requires to right itself.

For example, the levels of endorphins are raised during acupuncture treatment. These are natural pain relieving biochemicals that are our body’s natural opiates and are 100 times stronger than morphine.

An auricular acupuncture treatment lasts, after initial consultation, 40 minutes. You will be in a sitting position and during this time relaxing music will be played softly in the background. During the first five minutes you will feel yourself relax, both physically and mentally. The therapist will stay in the room to ensure your safety at all times. It is advised that you close your eyes and relax totally without talking.

Acupuncture is a safe, natural and effective treatment which will help alleviate symptoms and leave you relaxed, calm, less irritable, and able to sleep better. Auricular acupuncture however would be contra-indicated for haemophiliacs and also during the first trimester of pregnancy.