If you suffer with anxiety, chronic pain, depression, insomnia or PTSD, ear acupuncture could be the answer.
Ear acupuncture requires no consultation, everyone receives the same 5 point prescription in both ears. All you need to do when you arrive is fill out a registration form and then sit and focus on your breathing for about 40 minutes.
My idea for group ear acupuncture sessions started just over a year ago when I approached a local drug and alcohol support centre, Reach, with the suggestion. In fact ear acupuncture was originally developed for the purpose of rehabilitating addictions, but it soon became apparent the far reaching benefits to all.
The reaction at Reach has been incredible. For some of the people I’ve seen, it’s been life-changing. Here’s some of their feedback:
“Deeply relaxing and an aid to insomnia. Don’t be put off by needles, they are completely painless.”
“Acupuncture has helped to calm my mind, it's a great stress release as well as relaxing and learning to control my thoughts. It makes me feel very grateful Louise is fantastic.”
“Been coming from week 1, now 8 weeks. Works absolutely wonders. Recommend it to anyone.”
It’s inspired me to open my clinic on Wednesday afternoons from 8 January to absolutely anyone who’d liked to see how ear acupuncture could help them.
The community ear acupuncture sessions will run 2:30-3:30pm and 3:45-4:45pm on Wednesdays.
They’ll be pay-as-you-go sessions and open to everyone - no appointment or referral required. It’s not necessary to tell me about any past experiences or the reason you’ve come to the session, and there is no long waiting list for treatment!
Each £10, pay-on-the-day session will have a maximum of 8 people in the group, and will last an hour. That hour includes time for me to settle everyone in and set up their needles, then 40 minutes of relaxation, followed by time for me to take the needles out.
You’ll be sitting down for the entire session. The treatment will start with me inserting five sterilised single-use disposable acupuncture needles into your outer ear, at five specific points:
Sympathetic – calms the nervous system and helps with overall relaxation.
Shen Men / “Spirit Gate” – reduces anxiety and nervousness.
Kidney Point – for calming fears and healing internal organs.
Liver Point – for detoxification, blood purification, and to quell aggression.
Lung Point – promotes aeration and helps clients let go of grief.
Acupuncture needles are so thin, you should hardly feel them going in. The needles are left in for 40 minutes, which might feel odd for a moment while you get used to it.
Once I’ve set everyone up with their needles, I’ll move to the front room to give the group space to spend the next 40 minutes in quiet. It’s a chance to concentrate on your breathing, or to meditate if you’re comfortable doing that. I’ll be on hand if anyone needs me.
Most people may experience deep relaxation during a session, as the outer ear acts like a switchboard that sends impulses to the brain, which stimulates the release of serotonin, endorphins, and dopamine. New patients might feel sleepy, or even fall asleep. A reaction like this is completely normal.
Once the 40 minutes have passed treatment is complete, and I’ll work round the group take out the acupuncture needles.
Some people feel a positive effect after one session of ear acupuncture, while others find it takes a little longer. However you feel, there is no commitment to sign up for future weeks - the whole point is that people come to sessions as and when they like - there’s no need to book.
Why not come and see how ear acupuncture can help you - what have you got to lose?
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