Can there be a simple massage that can be self-administered? How wonderful it would be if it can take care of some physical and mental issues as well.
Such therapy and massage do exist and are called ear reflexology. Read on to get more insights on this super super-efficient and straightforward therapy.
What are the benefits?
in 1957. Dr. Paul Nogier introduced Ear Reflexology, also known as auricular therapy or auriculo therapy.
Before that, foot reflexology and hand reflexology were in vogue. There are more than 200 nerve ending points in the ear, particularly in the ear lobes. And that is the reason why the ear is considered a potent reflexology zone.
Another factor that strongly adds to this is the proximity of the ear to the brain. The nerves in the ear are connected to different nerve centers in the brain that control various body parts.
Reflexological stimulation, signals these nerve centers to send the appropriate signal to the body parts to either heal it or ease the discomfort.
From the reflexology point, the whole body is mapped on to the ear, as seen in the figure below. In recent years, ear reflexology has become very popular.
Apart from ease of massaging it anytime and anywhere, the vast benefits that it offers have made it very popular. It eases psychological symptoms and pathological disorders with high efficiency and ease.
Some most common and proven benefits of Ear reflexology are:
- It strengthens the immune system
- It releases stress
- A sense of happiness prevails, and that is because of the release of endorphins.
- The skin becomes healthy.
- It improves blood circulation, and that enhances the detoxification of the body.
- Depression and hypertension reduce because of ear massage.
- The body can handle asthma and allergic situations well.
- It also helps de-addiction.
- Proper administration of reflexology therapy controls the pain almost instantly
- It suppresses excessive hunger, and indirectly the bodyweight is controlled.
- It enhances the mental skills-like sense of discrimination, perception, and short-term memory.
- For students and learner, it enhances the academic skills-like mental arithmetic abilities, concentration, and focus and listening comprehensions
- The physical skills, like breathing and energy, public speaking, and allied skills, improve.
The left lobe of the ear influences the right brain and the pineal gland, and the right lobe controls the left brain and pituitary gland.
The pineal gland, though a bit mysterious in function, controls lots of hormonal secretions. The pituitary gland also regulates and administers the hormones.
Important ear pressure points
Ear Reflexology maps the whole body onto the ear. The ear reflexology charts graphically represent the mapping, as in figure 1. We can locate the musculoskeletal points on the ear. Whenever a particular body part is distressed, massage, or stimulation of the corresponding point on the ear, brings relief.
If the left shoulder pains, locate the shoulder point of the left ear and massage it to get relief. And this is how we can identify all the parts on the ear.
A more straightforward and more comprehensive representation is in figure 2 below. It is more convenient to locate the body parts in this diagram
Figure 3 below depicts some crucial and useful pressure points (Known as the master 10) located on the ear.
Shen Men
Translated in English, it means ‘heavenly gate.’ Pinching (not too hard)this point relieves headache, anxiety, stress, inflammation, depression, and pain of all kinds. Also helpful in cough, fever, epilepsy, and high blood pressure.
Allergy point
Seasonal allergies are cured, or its effect minimized by stimulating this point.
Point Zero
The name itself suggests that it is a balancing point. Stimulation of this point strikes a balance between energy, brain activity, and hormones.
Oscillation point
It is also known as the switching point, and it reduces the disorder because of an imbalance between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. It manages deficit attention disorder. It improves the learning disorder. And it also alleviates dyslexia to a great extent.
Tranquilizer point
This point induces a calming effect on the mind and body. It also manages stress and keeps blood pressure under control. It has a sedation effect and hence the name.
The Endocrine point
This point activates the pituitary gland. And the Pituitary gland, in turn, manages all the endocrine glands that secrete hormones. Hormones play a significant role in physical and mental wellbeing. Hormonal balance is an essential criterion for good health.
Master cerebral
It controls the prefrontal lobe of the brain. All decisions and conscious actions originate from here. This point reduces anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosomatic disorders, poor memory, and negative thinking and pessimism.
Master sensorial
This point minimizes any excessive or irritating sensations. Ringing in the ears, blurred vision is some of the disorders that this point handles.
Thalamus point
It calms and strengthens the brain. It reduces anxiety, schizophrenia, hypertension, nausea, vomiting, liver disorder, gall bladder dysfunctions, coronary disorders.
Stomach point. It works of diarrhea, constipation, and hemorrhoids.
How to do ear massage
Apart from symptom-related reflexology, there is some ear massage that has excellent benefits and keeps the body and mind alert and healthy.
1.Rubbing the outer edge of the ear.
With your forefinger and thumb, hold the top of the ear and gradually come down to the ear lobes rubbing it vigorously. Repeat for a couple of times. It increases the blood flow to the head and increases alertness instantly.
2.Ear lobe massage: It releases tension in the upper body. It also helps alleviate overthinking. There are three ways to do it.
i)Pinch the earlobe with forefinger and thumb. Keeping the thumb stationery move the forefinger in small circles (clockwise and anti-clockwise) a couple of times. Next, hold the forefinger stationery and let the thumb massage in small circles.
ii)Hold the lobe with forefinger and thumb. Pull it down and out.
iii)Pinch and release the earlobe with forefinger and thumb several times.
3.Ear Stroking: Gently stroke the inner, outer cartilage of the ear. Remember to stroke behind the ears as well. It has an incredibly relaxing effect on the whole body.
4.Hand yoga or ears: Cup both the ears with your palms. Press in slightly and rotate a few times in clockwise direction and then a few times in an anti-clockwise direction. This simple massage releases the hormone endorphin.
The complete body feels relaxed and relieved. It instantly de-stresses the body.
5.Ear Meditation: Rub the palms together vigorously to generate heat. Cup the ears with warm palms and hold it there for about 30 seconds. Repeat for a couple of times. It calms your body beautifully.
6.Qui Gong ear massage: scrub the ear vigorously from front to back. Do this for about 18 times. It will immediately energize the whole body.
7.Pomodoro of ear lobe: Hold the lobe between the forefinger and the thumb. Pull it down as you breathe out gently. Release and repeat it a couple of times. The mind is cleared and feels fresh.
8.Folding and curling: Place your palm on the ears with moderate pressure. Pull down your palm to roll down the upper ear. Hold for a few seconds. Take the palm up. Repeat for a couple to times. It dramatically improves your focus and attention.
The humble ear is an excellent reflexology zone. You can massage the ears anywhere anytime. Good mental and physical health is possible by doing a simple ear massage.