AURICULOTHERAPY HOME CARE

Ear acupressure involves the placement of pellets, seeds, or tacks on specific points on the ear to prevent or treat disease and/or pain.  Ear acupressure may be used as an adjunct to body acupuncture treatment, used to enhance and prolong the effects of body acupuncture, or used alone as the primary form of treatment.  Ear acupressure is an important aspect of the care plan prescribed by your practitioner.  In order to ensure optimal results, please follow the guidelines below carefully:

• Press gently on each ear seed, pellet, or tack 3 to 5 times per day for several seconds at a time.  This should produce a mild sensation of heat, distention, heaviness, or soreness around the point.  The sensation is a sign that the treatment is working.  Do not press too hard or for longer than a few seconds at a time, as irritation may develop.
• All ear therapies should be carefully removed after 3-5 days (or sooner if any discomfort develops).  This not only ensures the best results, but also protects the ear against irritation and infection.  This guideline is especially critical for patients whose ability to feel pain and/or heal from injury and infection is compromised by diabetes, drug therapy, HIV infection, cancer, or other conditions.
• If the ear therapy becomes painful or if you see or feel signs of warmth, redness, or swelling underneath or around the ear therapy, remove it immediately.
• To remove, use clean tweezers to grasp the adhesive tape and peel it away from the skin.  The seed, pellet, or tack will come off with the tape and can be discarded in the trash.  Residual adhesive on the skin can be removed using a cotton ball soaked with rubbing alcohol.  If the irritation persists, contact your practitioner right away.   As you remove the therapy, be careful not to allow the seed, tack, or tape to fall into the ear canal.
• If the ear therapy comes off accidentally, do not attempt to replace it yourself, as you may place it on an incorrect point.