Auriculotherapy

Disclaimer: I hope in my writing this blog I've been able to express that even the most actively joyful folks, the most consciously grateful, kind and loving...have their hiccups.  Ups and downs are a part of living a full life.  Knowing this to be true, much of my journey includes being open to new experiences, people, places, etc to help me grow and learn to handle the "downs" with grace and humility, forgiveness and love.  I try to be honest with you, my amazing readers, when I'm having a hiccup of sorts mostly because I feel that sharing our journeys in their truest and most raw states can only serve to connect us better.  That being said-- when I write about my life, my adventures and the often hokey things I like to try in no way am I wishing to push my beliefs on you.  I am completely aware that our relationship can thrive on a "to each his own" level :).  If nothing else, my hope is to simply give you insight into possible ways to enrich your own lives...if you so choose to try them :)

OK! Moving on...


Thursday morning started off with a much needed visit to a community acupuncture center in the city with my SF bestie (who was a little reluctant to try out this practice for the first time, but was a total rock star once her treatment began).  I'm no rookie to the world of acupuncture (and the world of benefits I've received from it in the past) and was excited to get back in the swing of the therapy.

After an initial evaluation of my physical and emotional health followed by reclining in a plush chair for a little over an hour with needles sticking out of my arms, legs, feet and even my forehead (this one made Jenny laugh every time I looked over at her) Daniel the acupuncturist came over and whispered 2 things to me;

I think you should come once a week for a few weeks  (I figured ahead of time my usual racing pulse and rather high anxiety would have him say this) and Have you ever tried auriculotherapy?

Via Wikipedia: "Auriculotherapy is a form of alternative medicine based on the idea that the ear is a micro-system with the entire body represented on the auricle, the outer portion of the ear. Ailments of the entire body are assumed to be treatable by stimulation of the surface of the ear exclusively."

I've done a bunch of reading and was pleased to discover acupuncture (including auriculotherapy) has been shown to boost serotonin levels. Serotonin and noradrenaline are mood enhancers, and thus acupuncture has been shown to reduce stress and induce relaxation in patients.  They've even begun using it in the military to help soldiers with injuries, head and sleep problems.

So, in typical Tricia-the-yes-woman fashion, I allowed Daniel the practitioner to position small pins in my ears that I'm to keep in for a few days.  The specific points chosen alleviate and diminish stress, pain, tension, anxiety, depression & insomnia.  And they look like this:

3 of the four pins (2 in each ear) didn't hurt in the slightest when he inserted them (they do not go so deep as to pierce through the skin on the other side of the ear) and the other was merely a pinch (like getting a baby ear piercing).  If I feel like I'm getting a tad overwhelmed I simply give the points a good squeeze for a few seconds to help bring down my heart beat and ease the yuck-o feeling in my tummy.  So far, so good.

If you've never tried acupuncture of any kind, I HIGHLY recommend it.  Creating a health prevention plan for your body and your health is where.it.is.at. Gotta keep this little vessel going for as long as possible...I have too many adventures yet to have!

I'm off to Sonoma on this beautiful and sunny Saturday to lay poolside for the afternoon...

...I don't think I'll be squeezin' my pins today :)

In Gratitude,

Trish