Kicking off the first issue of The Pressure Point Pulse…

I’m Kaci, and I’m the founder of myearseeds.com, acupressure ear seeds for DIY at-home application. Auricular acupressure is just one type of acupressure, and acupressure is just one type of auriculotherapy.

So The Pressure Point Pulse is my new newsletter that encompasses it all: acupressure, acupuncture, and overall holistic health and wellness.

I’ll be sending this newsletter weekly — reach out if you have any ideas about how to make it better!

Alright, here we go…

Acupuncture Proves More Effective Than Placebo in Treating Veterans' PTSD

Highlights:

• Study shows acupuncture reduces PTSD in veterans.

• Real acupuncture improves fear response.

• Low dropout rate indicates high tolerance for treatment.

In a study published just last month (February 2024), researchers at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California, set out to discover how effective acupuncture can be for treating PTSD in combat veterans (Hollifield et al., 2024). This study compared real acupuncture treatments with sham (or placebo) treatments to see their effects on PTSD symptoms and how they might help with physiological reactions linked to trauma.

From April 2018 to May 2022, 93 veterans between the ages of 18 to 55 participated, with 71 finishing the study. These participants received their assigned type of acupuncture in sessions lasting an hour, twice a week for 15 weeks, aiming for up to 24 sessions in total. The main goal was to see how much their PTSD symptoms improved, along with changes in their physiological response to fear, measured by how they reacted to sudden noises.

The results were quite clear: those who received the real acupuncture treatment saw a significant improvement in their PTSD symptoms compared to those who received the sham treatment. Additionally, only the real acupuncture group showed improvements in their ability to handle fear-related responses. This improvement was also linked to a decrease in their PTSD symptoms, suggesting a direct benefit of acupuncture on the trauma-related aspects of PTSD.

The study also noted that very few participants dropped out, indicating that acupuncture was a well-tolerated treatment option. Overall, this study supports the use of acupuncture as an effective treatment for PTSD symptoms in combat veterans, suggesting it could be a valuable addition to existing treatment options. The findings encourage more research into how acupuncture can be used for PTSD, including how long the benefits last and how it works to relieve symptoms.

Acupuncture Therapy Used for an Illinois Police K9 Injured in the Line of Duty

In Lake County, Illinois, the regarded police K9 named Dax recently underwent acupuncture therapy for injuries from field duty, showcasing the practice's application beyond human patients. Dax, who has played a crucial role in numerous law enforcement operations, experienced this traditional healing technique to alleviate inflammation in his neck and spine following an incident near the Wisconsin border.

This use of acupuncture reflects its growing integration in diverse fields, including law enforcement, highlighting its effectiveness in recovery and pain management — even for animals.

Unlock Enhanced Auriculotherapy with Auriculo 360

Disclosure: The below summary contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you when you use those links.

On the My Ear Seeds blog, we champion the benefits of auriculotherapy for health and wellness. While many of you are familiar with the practice and the use of ear seeds, we're excited to introduce a game-changer for your home sessions: the Auriculo 360 app.

Auriculo 360 is a groundbreaking tool that transforms how we find and stimulate the right points on the ear. Unlike traditional 2D charts that can be limiting, Auriculo 360 offers a detailed 3D model of the ear. This technology allows you to rotate, zoom, and explore the ear in ways previously not possible, ensuring you can accurately locate over 480 acupressure points and protocols for various conditions.

The app's features are designed with you in mind. From detailed descriptions of each protocol to the ability to customize and save your notes, Auriculo 360 is tailored for ease of use. It's compatible across multiple devices, ensuring your personalizations are always at your fingertips, no matter where you are or what device you're using.

As advocates of auriculotherapy, we tested Auriculo 360 ourselves and were impressed by its precision and user-friendliness. It's perfect for anyone looking to deepen their practice, whether you're a beginner or have years of experience. The app is available on a subscription basis, with a 30-day trial to get you started risk-free.

We believe Auriculo 360 is an invaluable addition to your auriculotherapy toolkit. It elevates the practice by providing the clarity and accuracy needed for effective treatment. Try it out and see the difference for yourself.

Sources:

Hollifield, M., Hsiao, A. F., Smith, T., Calloway, T., Jovanovic, T., Smith, B., Carrick, K., Norrholm, S. D., Munoz, A., Alpert, R., Caicedo, B., Frousakis, N., & Cocozza, K. (2024). Acupuncture for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA psychiatry, e235651. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.5651