Ear Acupuncture and Auriculotherapy in Lindenhurst, NY
The whole body is mapped across the outer ear. Auriculotherapy treats through that map, which is why a session for your back can begin and end above the shoulders.
What It Is
A map of the body, on the side of your head
Auriculotherapy works from a single idea: the outer ear carries a microsystem of the whole body. Points across its surface correspond to organs and structures elsewhere, so stimulating a point on the ear reaches something that is not on the ear at all.
It is the same medicine as acupuncture, applied through one region rather than across the whole body. Ultra-fine needles are the usual method, though seeds or small pellets are sometimes used where a lighter and longer-lasting stimulation suits better.
The practical appeal is that you stay dressed and seated, the treatment area is small, and it works well for patients who are uneasy about needling elsewhere. The clinical appeal is that the ear reaches systems that are awkward to treat directly.
The Map
Five regions, five jobs
Hover or tap either the ear or the list to see how they connect.
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1
The lobe
Maps to the head and face. This is the region worked for jaw tension, teeth and eye complaints, and headaches that sit behind the temples.
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2
The antihelix
Follows the line of the spine. Neck, back and shoulder problems are addressed along this ridge, which is why it is used alongside body treatment for pain.
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3
The concha
The inner bowl corresponds to the internal organs, including the stomach, spleen and intestines. Digestive complaints are treated here.
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4
The triangular fossa
Home of the shen men point, the region most associated with the nervous system. Used for sleep, tension and the settling effect patients notice first.
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5
The tragus
Associated with appetite and adrenal function. This is the region the ear staple works from, which is why that treatment sits on the ear rather than the abdomen.
Not The Same Thing
Ear acupuncture or the ear staple
Both work from the ear and patients often arrive unsure which they want. The difference is straightforward.
Ear acupuncture
Treats across the whole map for whatever you came in with, whether that is sleep, digestion, tension or pain. Points are stimulated during the appointment and nothing stays in afterward.
Planned as a course of visits, in the same way body acupuncture is, and often run alongside it rather than instead of it.
ACU-Band ear staple
A single application aimed at appetite. Small titanium staples are placed at a specific point and stay in for a few weeks, applying steady pressure between visits rather than during one.
If appetite support is what you are after, the ear staple is the page to read. Every ACU-Band treatment starts with a consultation.
One more that gets confused with both: ear candling is a gentle cleansing treatment for the ear itself. It is not auriculotherapy and it does not treat anything elsewhere in the body.
What It Is Used For
Where ear work earns its place
Stress and sleep
The triangular fossa is the most-used region in the practice for a reason. Where the complaint is tension that will not lift, ear work pairs naturally with acupuncture for anxiety and stress.
Headaches
Ear points reach the head and jaw without needling near an area that already hurts. We have written about ear stapling for migraines if that is your reason for looking.
Habits and recovery
Ear protocols have a long history in addiction and recovery settings, which is why they sit alongside our holistic addiction treatment rather than separate from it.
Most patients here have ear work as part of a plan rather than on its own. Your first visit sorts out whether it leads the treatment or supports it, and that answer usually changes as you respond.
Common Questions
Questions we get asked
What is the difference between ear acupuncture and the ear staple?
Ear acupuncture is a session treatment across the whole ear map, and nothing stays in afterward. The ACU-Band ear staple is a single application aimed at appetite, using titanium staples that remain in place for a few weeks. Different purpose, different mechanism.
Does it hurt?
The needles are ultra-fine, nothing like those used for injections. The ear is more sensitive than most of the body, so you tend to feel the placement more clearly, but the sensation settles quickly and most patients find the session relaxing.
Can ear acupuncture be done on its own?
It can, and sometimes is. More often it runs alongside body acupuncture as part of the same plan, because the two reach the same systems from different directions.
How many sessions will I need?
Auriculotherapy is cumulative rather than immediate, so it is planned as a course rather than a single visit. Your practitioner sets the number at your first appointment. Individual results vary.
Is ear acupuncture covered by insurance?
Many plans cover acupuncture and coverage depends on your policy and what is being treated. Submit your details through our intake and insurance page and we will verify your benefits before your first visit.
Patient Reviews
What our patients say
★★★★★Everyone here is very friendly and makes you feel comfortable. I have had a massage and I've been coming back weekly for acupuncture. Overall great experience and I recommend to all my peers!
Samantha Walsh, Google
★★★★★love them!! the help they provide is spectacular
tori, Google
Individual results vary. Outcomes depend on your condition, history, and treatment plan.
Related Treatments
Treatments that pair with this
Get Started
Book your first visit
Send a message and the front desk will get back to you. If you are not sure whether ear acupuncture or the ear staple is what you want, call 631-309-2242 and we will work it out with you. You can also read about Joe first.