Auricular Diagnosis and Therapy
A specialized branch of acupuncture involves the utilization of the ear for diagnosis and treatment of conditions elsewhere in the body (Still 2001). In human acupuncture, the shape of an inverted fetus describes the relationship of certain organs with parts of the external ear (Klide and Kung 1977).
Thus, the lower ear lobe corresponds to the head and might be stimulated for relief of migraine headache. Limited work with dogs suggests that active ear points can be identified by increased pressure sensitivity or increased electrical skin conductivity. Selected points (usually those that are pressure sensitive) are then stimulated with dry needles, aquapuncture using saline or diluted local anesthetic, or laser (Still 2001).A partial list of ear points in cattle has been developed by observing reddened or otherwise inflamed areas in the ears of animals with chronic clinical conditions (Kothbauer 1999; Kothbauer and VanEngelenburg 2001). It is recommended to clean encrusted cerumen from the inner surface of the ear with tissue paper and clip long hairs with scissors before gently stroking the entire surface with a blunt probe. Areas that become reddened or ooze fluid in 5-15 seconds have diagnostic importance. Apparently the ear points of the goat have not been mapped. One acupuncture point is known to exist close to the tip of the goat's ear (concave surface) and is specified for the treatment of abdominal pain (Klide and Kung 1977).