Overview

Ear acupuncture
Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic
points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is
most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness,
including stress management.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the

flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through
pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these
meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance.

In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to

stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation
boosts your body's natural painkillers.

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 Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Pain Relief

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Why it's done

Acupuncture is used mainly to relieve discomfort associated with a variety of diseases

and conditions, including:

 Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting

 Dental pain

 Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines

 Labor pain

 Low back pain

  Neck pain

 Osteoarthritis

 Menstrual cramps

 Respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis

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Risks

The risks of acupuncture are low if you have a competent, certified acupuncture
practitioner using sterile needles. Common side effects include soreness and minor
bleeding or bruising where the needles were inserted. Single-use, disposable needles
are now the practice standard, so the risk of infection is minimal. Not everyone is a good
candidate for acupuncture. You may be at risk of complications if you:

 Have a bleeding disorder. Your chances of bleeding or bruising from the needles
increase if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're taking blood thinners.

 Have a pacemaker. Acupuncture that involves applying mild electrical pulses to

the needles can interfere with a pacemaker's operation.

 Are pregnant. Some types of acupuncture are thought to stimulate labor, which
could result in a premature delivery.

How you prepare

No special preparation is required before acupuncture treatment.

Choosing a practitioner

If you're considering acupuncture, take the same steps you would to choose a doctor:

 Ask people you trust for recommendations.

 Check the practitioner's training and credentials. Most states require that
nonphysician acupuncturists pass an exam conducted by the National Certification
Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
  Interview the practitioner. Ask what's involved in the treatment, how likely it is to
help your condition and how much it will cost.

 Find out whether your insurance covers the treatment.

Tell your doctor you're considering acupuncture. He or she may be able to tell you about
the success rate of using acupuncture for your condition or recommend an acupuncture
practitioner.

What you can expect

During an acupuncture treatment, your acupuncturist inserts very thin needles into
specific spots on your body. Insertion of the needles usually causes little discomfort.

Each person who performs acupuncture has a unique style, often blending aspects of
Eastern and Western approaches to medicine. To determine the type of acupuncture
treatment that will help you the most, your practitioner may ask you about your
symptoms, behaviors and lifestyle. He or she may also closely examine:

 The parts of your body that are painful

 The shape, coating and color of your tongue

  The color of your face

 The strength, rhythm and quality of the pulse in your wrist

This initial evaluation and treatment may take up to 60 minutes. Subsequent

appointments usually take about a half-hour. A common treatment plan for a single
complaint would typically involve one or two treatments a week. The number of
treatments will depend on the condition being treated and its severity. In general, it's
common to receive six to eight treatments.

During the procedure

Acupuncture points are situated in all areas of the body. Sometimes the appropriate
points are far removed from the area of your pain. Your acupuncture practitioner will tell
you the general site of the planned treatment and whether you need to remove any
clothing. A gown, towel or sheet will be provided. You lie on a padded table for the
treatment, which involves:

 Needle insertion. Acupuncture needles are inserted to various depths at strategic

points on your body. The needles are very thin, so insertion usually causes little
discomfort. People often don't feel them inserted at all. Between five and 20
needles are used in a typical treatment. You may feel a mild aching sensation
when a needle reaches the correct depth.

 Needle manipulation. Your practitioner may gently move or twirl the needles after
placement or apply heat or mild electrical pulses to the needles.

 Needle removal. In most cases, the needles remain in place for 10 to 20 minutes
while you lie still and relax. There is usually no discomfort when the needles are
removed.

After the procedure

Some people feel relaxed and others feel energized after an acupuncture treatment. But
not everyone responds to acupuncture. If your symptoms don't begin to improve within a
few weeks, acupuncture may not be right for you.

Results
The benefits of acupuncture are sometimes difficult to measure, but many people find it
helpful as a means to control a variety of painful conditions.

Several studies, however, indicate that some types of simulated acupuncture appear to
work just as well as real acupuncture. There's also evidence that acupuncture works
best in people who expect it to work.

Acupuncture has few side effects, so it may be worth a try if you're having trouble
controlling pain with more-conventional methods.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means
to prevent, detect, treat or manage this disease.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763

What Is the Theory Behind Acupressure?

Acupressure is just one of a number of Asian bodywork therapies
(ABT) with roots in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Examples of
other Asian bodywork therapies are medical qigong and Tuina.
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of acupressure.
Traditional Chinese medical theory describes special acupoints, or
acupressure points, that lie along meridians, or channels, in your body.
These are the same energy meridians and acupoints as those targeted
with acupuncture. It is believed that through these invisible channels
flows vital energy -- or a life force called qi (ch'i). It is also believed
that these 12 major meridians connect specific organs or networks of
organs, organizing a system of communication throughout your body.
The meridians begin at your fingertips, connect to your brain, and
then connect to an organ associated with a certain meridian.
According to this theory, when one of these meridians is blocked or
out of balance, illness can occur. Acupressure and acupuncture are
among the types of TCM that are thought to help restore balance.

How Does Acupressure Work?

Acupressure practitioners use their fingers, palms, elbows or feet, or
special devices to apply pressure to acupoints on the body's
meridians. Sometimes, acupressure also involves stretching or
acupressure massage, as well as other methods.
During an acupressure session, you lie fully clothed on a soft massage
table. The practitioner gently presses on acupressure points on your
body. A session typically lasts about one hour. You may need several
sessions for the best results.
The goal of acupressure or other types of Asian bodywork is to
restore health and balance to the body's channels of energy and to
regulate opposing forces of yin (negative energy) and yang (positive
energy). Some proponents claim acupressure not only treats the
energy fields and body but also the mind, emotions, and spirit. Some
even believe that therapists can transmit the vital energy (external qi)
to another person.
Not all Western practitioners believe that this is possible or even that
these meridians exist. Instead, they attribute any results to other
factors, such as reduced muscle tension, improved circulation, or
stimulation of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers.

What Are Common Acupuncture Points?

There are literally hundreds of acupuncture points on the body -- too many to name. Here are
three that are commonly used by acupuncturists and acupressure practitioners:

 Large intestine 4 (LI 4): This is in the soft, fleshy web between your thumb and
forefinger.
 Liver 3 (LR-3): Located on the top of your foot up from the space between your big toe
and next toe.
 Spleen 6 (SP-6): This is about three finger widths above your inner anklebone.
Which Health Problems Benefit From Acupressure?
Research into the health benefits of acupressure is in its infancy. Many patient reports support its
use for a number of health concerns. More well-designed research is needed, though. Here are a
few health problems that appear to improve with acupressure:
Nausea . Several studies support the use of wrist acupressure to prevent and treat nausea and
vomiting:

 After surgery
 During spinal anesthesia
 After chemotherapy
 From motion sickness
 Related to pregnancy

The PC 6 acupressure point is located in the groove between the two large tendons on the inside
of the wrist that start at the base of the palm. There are special wristbands that are sold over the
counter. These press on similar pressure points and work for some people.
https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/acupressure-points-and-massage-treatment#2

Reflexology
Reflexology Home
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How it works
How it can help
Reflexology points
Regulations
Find a reflexologist
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When to avoid reflexology
Research on reflexology
More resources
Reflexology is the application of appropriate pressure to specific points and
areas on the feet, hands, or ears. Reflexologists believe that these reflex
points correspond to different body organs and systems, and that pressing
them creates real benefits for the person's health.

For example, reflexology holds that a specific spot in the arch of the
foot corresponds to the bladder. When a reflexologist uses thumbs or fingers
to apply appropriate pressure to this area, it may affect bladder functioning.

Reflexology foot maps

Reflexologists use foot maps to guide their work, such as the reflexology chart
shown on the right. The left foot corresponds to the organs found on the left
side of the body and the right foot to the organs on the right side.

How does reflexology differ from

massage, Reiki, or acupuncture?
Many people confuse reflexology with massage, Reiki, or acupuncture, but
there are essential differences between these therapies. Massage therapists
manipulate larger areas of soft tissue in the body while reflexologists apply
pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, and ears. Unlike either
massage or reflexology, Reiki does not involve any physical manipulation or
pressure, but instead uses light touch to work with the subtle vibrational field
thought to surround the body. Finally, while acupuncture and acupressure, like
reflexology, use reflex points on the body to influence other parts of the body,
the points are not the same and acupuncture uses points over the entire body.

While these are different practices entirely, one thing they all have in common
is that they are sometimes used to help manage symptoms associated
with stress.

What does reflexology do?

Although reflexology is not used to diagnose or cure disease, millions of
people around the world use it to complement other treatments when
addressing conditions like anxiety,
asthma, cancer treatment, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, headaches,
kidney function, PMS, and sinusitis.

What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to
promote health and well-being. Sometimes it’s called essential oil therapy.
Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health
of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health.
Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently,
aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and
medicine.

How long has aromatherapy been around?

Humans have used aromatherapy for thousands of years. Ancient cultures in

China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components
in resins, balms, and oils. These natural substances were used for medical
and religious purposes. They were known to have both physical and
psychological benefits.

Essential oils distillation is attributed to the Persians in the 10th century,

though the practice may have been in use for a long time prior to this.
Information about essential oil distillation was published in the 16th century in
Germany. French physicians in the 19th century recognized the potential of
essential oils in treating disease.

Medical doctors became more established in the 19th century and focused on
using chemical drugs. However, the French and German doctors still
recognized the role of natural botanicals in treating illness.

The term “aromatherapy” was coined by a French perfumer and chemist

René-Maurice Gattefossé in a book he wrote on the topic that was published
in 1937. He had previously discovered the healing potential of lavender in
treating burns. The book discusses the use of essential oils in treating medical
conditions.

How does aromatherapy

treatment work?
Aromatherapy works through the sense of smell and skin absorption using
products such as these:

 diffusers
 aromatic spritzers
 inhalers
 bathing salts
 body oils, creams, or lotions for massage or topical application
 facial steamers
 hot and cold compresses
 clay masks

You can use these alone or in any combination.

There are nearly one hundred types of essential oils available. Generally,
people use the most popular oils.

Essential oils are available online, in health food stores, and in some regular
supermarkets. It’s important to buy from a reputable producer since the
oils aren’t regulated by the FDA. This ensures you’re buying a quality product
that is 100 percent natural. It shouldn’t contain any additives or synthetic
ingredients. Check out these essential oils available on Amazon.

Each essential oil has an array of unique healing properties, uses, and effects.
Combining essential oils to create a synergistic blend creates even more
benefits.

Aromatherapy benefits
Aromatherapy has an array of benefits. It’s said to:

 manage pain
 improve sleep quality
 reduce stress, agitation, and anxiety
 soothe sore joints
 treat headaches and migraines
 alleviate side effects of chemotherapy
 ease discomforts of labor
 fight bacteria, virus, or fungus
 improve digestion
 improve hospice and palliative care
 boost immunity

Unproven claims
Scientific evidence for aromatherapy is considered to be limited in some
areas. Research to support the use of aromatherapy in treating Alzheimer’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease, and heart disease is lacking.

Conditions it may treat

Aromatherapy has the potential to treat many conditions, including:

 asthma
 insomnia
  fatigue
 depressionTrusted Source
 inflammation
 peripheral neuropathy
 menstrual issues
 alopecia
 cancer
 erectile dysfunction
 arthritis
 menopause

Most popular aromatherapy oils

According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, the most
popular essential oils are:

 clary sage
 cypress
 eucalyptus
 fennel
 geranium
 ginger
 helichrysum
 lavender
 lemon
 lemongrass
  mandarin
 neroli
 patchouli
 peppermint
 Roman chamomile
 rose
 rosemary
 tea tree
 vetiver
 ylang ylang

You can use essential oils in any number of ways. For example, add them to
body lotions or carrier oils, and then apply them topically. Try enhancing a
facial toner, shampoo, or conditioner with essential oils. Or incorporate them
into liquid soap, toothpaste, or mouthwash. You can also diffuse or spritz the
oils throughout a room or pour them into a bath.

Choosing a provider
You may wish to meet with a certified aromatherapist, especially when you’re
first getting started with aromatherapy or if you have specific issues you’d like
to address. You can find an aromatherapist by using an online directory. Or
ask at a spa or yoga studio.

During a consultation with an aromatherapist, you’ll answer questions and talk

about your lifestyle and health. Together, you can come up with an individual
treatment plan to meet your goals and manage your symptoms. You may
have a few sessions with your aromatherapist, or you could decide to have
ongoing sessions for a longer period of time.
Since aromatherapy is a complementary therapy, you should talk to your
doctor before starting your sessions. That way your essential oil therapy can
be tailored to work together with any medical care or treatment you’re
receiving.

There’s plenty of information available online and in books if you wish to treat
yourself at home. There are also courses you can take to learn more about
aromatherapy.

Consultations with an aromatherapist will vary depending on several factors,

including where you live. You can expect to pay up to $100 for an initial
consultation and up to $50 for follow-up consultations.

Side effects
Most essential oils are safe to use. But there are some precautions you
should take when using them, as well as side effects you should be aware of,
especially if you take any prescription medications.

Don’t apply essential oils directly to your skin. Always use a carrier oil to dilute
the oils. Remember to do a skin patch test before using essential oils. Since
citrus essential oils may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, these oils
should be avoided if you’ll be exposed to sunlight.

Children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should use essential
oils with caution and under the supervision of a doctor. You should avoid
some oils and never swallow essential oils.

Side effects of using essential oils include:

 rashes
  asthma attacks
 headaches
 allergic reactions
 skin irritation
 nausea

Use essential oils with caution if you have:

 hay fever
 asthma
 epilepsy
 high blood pressure
 eczema
 psoriasis

 https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-aromatherapy

Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a licensed health care profession that emphasizes the body’s ability to heal
itself. Treatment typically involves manual therapy, often including spinal manipulation.
Other forms of treatment, such as exercise and nutritional counseling, may be used as well.

What Chiropractors Do
Chiropractors approach patient care in a manner similar to that used in conventional
medicine. They interview the patient, obtain a detailed health history, perform an
examination, do tests, and develop a working diagnosis. They then develop a management
plan, start treatment, and monitor the patient’s progress. Chiropractors often treat
problems related to the musculoskeletal system.
The manual treatment methods used by chiropractors range from stretching and sustained
pressure to specific joint manipulations, which are usually delivered by hand and involve a
quick and gentle thrust. The purpose of the manipulations is to improve joint motion and
function. Manipulations are most commonly done on the spine, but other parts of the body
may also be treated in this way.

Education and Licensure of Practitioners

 To practice in the United States, chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)
degree, pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam, and have a state license.
Many states also require chiropractors to pass an exam about state-specific laws, and all
states require practicing chiropractors to take continuing education classes.
 To enroll in a D.C. program in the United States, which typically takes 4 years to complete,
students must have had at least 3 years of undergraduate education.
 Institutions that award the D.C. degree are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic
Education, which is recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Secretary of
Education. In 2017, there were 15 accredited D.C. programs on 18 campuses.
 Chiropractic education includes classes in basic sciences, such as anatomy and physiology,
and supervised clinical experience in which students learn skills such as spinal
assessment, adjustment techniques, and making diagnoses.
 Some chiropractors complete postgraduate education in specialized fields, such as
orthopedics or pediatrics.
The scope of chiropractors’ practice (that is, the types of services they are allowed to
provide) varies from state to state. Health insurance plans may cover chiropractic, but
coverage may be partial rather than complete.
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/chiropractic

What is massage therapy used for?

Massage therapy is used to help manage a health condition or enhance wellness. It involves
manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage has been practiced in most cultures,
both Eastern and Western, throughout human history, and was one of the earliest tools that
people used to try to relieve pain.

What are the different types of massage?

The term “massage therapy” includes many techniques. The most common form of massage
therapy in Western countries is called Swedish or classical massage; it is the core of most
massage training programs. Other styles include sports massage, clinical massage to
accomplish specific goals such as releasing muscle spasms, and massage traditions derived
from Eastern cultures, such as Shiatsu and Tuina.

Do massages help pain?

Massage therapy has been studied for several types of pain, including low-back pain, neck
and shoulder pain, pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, and headaches. Here’s what the
science says:

Low-Back Pain

Neck and Shoulder Pain

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

 Headaches

Can masage help cancer patients?

With appropriate precautions, massage therapy can be part of supportive care for cancer
patients who would like to try it; however, the evidence that it can relieve pain and anxiety
is not strong.
 Massage therapy, with or without aromatherapy (the use of essential oils) has been used
to attempt to relieve pain, anxiety, and other symptoms in people with cancer. A 2016
evaluation of 19 studies (more than 1,200 participants) of massage for cancer patients
found some evidence that massage might help with pain and anxiety, but the quality of the
evidence was very low (because most studies were small and some may have been
biased), and findings were not consistent.
 Clinical practice guidelines (guidance for health care providers) for the care of breast
cancer patients include massage as one of several approaches that may be helpful for
stress reduction, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life. Clinical practice
guidelines for the care of lung cancer patients suggest that massage therapy could be
added as part of supportive care in patients whose anxiety or pain is not adequately
controlled by usual care.
 Massage therapists may need to modify their usual techniques when working with cancer
patients; for example, they may have to use less pressure than usual in areas that are
sensitive because of cancer or cancer treatments.
For more information, see NCCIH’s fact sheet on cancer.

Can massage be helpful for fibromyalgia symptoms?

Massage therapy may be helpful for some fibromyalgia symptoms if it’s continued for
long enough.
 A 2014 evaluation of 9 studies (404 total participants) concluded that massage therapy, if
continued for at least 5 weeks, improved pain, anxiety, and depression in people with
fibromyalgia but did not have an effect on sleep disturbance.
 A 2015 evaluation of 10 studies (478 total participants) compared the effects of different
kinds of massage therapy and found that most styles of massage had beneficial effects on
quality of life in people with fibromyalgia. Swedish massage may be an exception; 2
studies of this type of massage (56 total participants) did not show benefits.
For more information, see NCCIH’s fact sheet on fibromyalgia.

Can massage therapy be helpful for people

with HIV/AIDS?
 There’s some evidence that massage therapy may have benefits for anxiety, depression,
and quality of life in people with HIV/AIDS, but the amount of research and number of
people studied are small.
 Massage therapy may help improve the quality of life for people with HIV or AIDS, a 2010
review of 4 studies with a total of 178 participants concluded.
 More recently, a 2013 study of 54 people indicated that massage may be helpful for
depression in people with HIV, and a 2017 study of 29 people with HIV suggested that
massage may be helpful for anxiety.

Does massage help baby growth?

There’s evidence that premature babies who are massaged may have improved weight
gain. No benefits of massage for normal full-term infants have been clearly demonstrated.
 A 2017 research review analyzed the results of 34 studies of massage therapy for
premature infants. Twenty of the studies (1,250 total infants) evaluated the effect of
massage on weight gain, with most showing an improvement. The mechanism by which
massage therapy might increase weight gain is not well understood. Some studies
suggested other possible benefits of massage but because the amount of evidence is small,
no conclusions can be reached about effects other than weight gain.
 A 2013 review of 34 studies of healthy full-term infants didn’t find clear evidence of
beneficial effects of massage in these low-risk infants.

What are the risks of massage therapy?

The risk of harmful effects from massage therapy appears to be low. However, there have
been rare reports of serious side effects, such as a blood clot, nerve injury, or bone fracture.
Some of the reported cases have involved vigorous types of massage, such as deep tissue
massage, or patients who might be at increased risk of injury, such as elderly people.

What are the requirements to become a

massage therapist?
In states that regulate massage therapy (45 states and the District of Columbia), therapists
must get a license or certification before practicing massage. State regulations typically
require graduation from an approved program and passing an examination.
Some massage therapists obtain certification from the National Certification Board for
Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. To do this, they must meet specific educational
requirements, undergo a background check, and pass an examination.

NCCIH-Funded Research
 NCCIH-sponsored studies have investigated various aspects of massage therapy, including
 Whether massage therapy can be helpful in preventing and treating repetitive
motion disorders
 If massage can be helpful as a component of a nondrug approach to pain management
in veterans
 If massage therapy can target sensory pathways that can help people with ankle sprains
avoid chronic ankle instability (which can affect as many as 40 percent of people who
experience this type of injury).

Pranic Healing
Even though the body appears to be material, it is not. In the deeper reality, your body is a field
of energy. When we look beyond the molecules that make up the matter of the body, we see
fields of energy. In every culture, and every traditional medical system, healing was
accomplished by addressing the energy body. Our energy body that extends outward from the
visible body, known as our aura, can be affected by our life experiences. Certain life
experiences can create congestion or depletion in specific areas of the energy body, and various
energy healing modalities have been developed to address this.
 Pranic healing is a form of no-touch energy healing in which the energy body, or aura, is
cleansed and energized. It is a distillation of essences of the world’s most effective energy
healing modalities. This cleansing allows the life force, or prana, to flow through the mind/body
system freely without obstruction, and can be increased in areas of the physical body where it is
depleted. Prana is described in the Vedic tradition as the body’s healing energy. By allowing
prana to move freely, self-healing mechanisms are activated.

Pranic healing was created by a Chinese-Filipino spiritual teacher and energy master,
Grandmaster Choa Kok Sui and is taught all over the world. When used to complement other
medical treatments, pranic healing offers a powerful catalyst to spark the body’s inner ability to
heal itself.

Pranic Healing can be used for the following purposes:

 Reducing stress
 Increasing energy
 Emotional clearing
 Shifting the energy around deeply rooted behaviors
 Reducing pain
 Stimulating your inner healing ability, allowing you to heal more fully, physically and emotionally