Auriculotherapy (Nogier Method)

Presentation

Auriculotherapy is a therapeutic approach using the ear auricle as a microsystem for diagnosis and treatment. While auricular stimulation is mentioned in ancient Chinese texts, it was French physician Paul Nogier (1908–1996) who, in the 1950s, established the complete mapping of the auricular pavilion as an inverted fetus. He presented his work at the International Acupuncture Congress in Marseille in 1956, causing worldwide repercussions that led the Chinese themselves to develop their own auricular map.

In 1987, the WHO officially recognized auriculotherapy and standardized 43 auricular points, validating the convergence of French and Chinese systems. The ear auricle, richly innervated (branches of the vagus, trigeminal, cervical plexus and facial nerves), constitutes a true 'control screen' of the organism.

Creator: Dr. Paul Nogier (1908–1996), Lyon, France.

Core Principles

• Inverted fetus somatotopy: the human body projects onto the ear like an upside-down fetus. The lobe corresponds to the head, the antihelix to the spine, the concha to the visceral system.
• Reactive points: an auricular point only becomes detectable (pressure-sensitive, electrically modified) when the corresponding organ or zone is imbalanced. A 'healthy' point is silent.
• RAC/VAS (Auriculo-Cardiac Reflex): diagnostic technique developed by Nogier — subtle radial pulse modification in response to auricular point stimulation.
• Nogier's 7 frequencies: each body tissue resonates with a specific frequency (A = 2.28 Hz through G = 146 Hz).
• 3 auricular phases: Nogier described 3 superimposed somatotopic representations corresponding to different embryological layers.

Main Indications

• Chronic pain: low back pain, neck pain, knee pain, fibromyalgia
• Addiction: smoking cessation ('Shen Men' point), alcohol and drug withdrawal (NADA protocol)
• Anxiety, stress, sleep disorders
• Eating disorders and weight control
• Headaches and migraines
• Nausea (pregnancy, post-operative)
• Allergies and ENT disorders
• Functional digestive, gynecological, urinary disorders

Session Overview

The practitioner visually inspects both ears, looking for skin changes (redness, scaling, vascularization). They methodically palpate auricular zones with a calibrated spring-loaded stylus to identify reactive tender points. An electrical detector may complement diagnosis by measuring skin conductance.

Stimulation is performed via: ASP semi-permanent needles (Nogier's Semi-Permanent Needle, left 3–4 weeks), short classical needles, vaccaria seeds fixed with adhesive, low-power laser, or electrical stimulation. Duration: 15–30 minutes for active sessions, or ASP placement for continuous stimulation.

Variations and Sub-techniques

• French auriculotherapy (Nogier): original inverted fetus mapping, RAC/VAS use, 3 phases
• Chinese auriculotherapy: slightly different map, points named after organs, TCM approach
• NADA protocol: 5 standardized auricular points for addiction and stress
• Laser auriculotherapy: non-invasive stimulation, ideal for children and needle-phobic patients
• Auriculomedicine: Nogier's advanced development using frequencies and RAC

Contraindications

• Pregnancy: some auricular points are uterotonic
• Auricular lesions: inflammation, eczema, wounds, burns
• Hearing aid (remove before session)
• Nickel or chromium allergy (ASP needles)
• Children under 7 (caution)