The History and Development of Auriculotherapy

Abstract

Auriculotherapy was discovered in France in the I950's by Dr Paul Nogier. Folk wisdom that needling or cautery of the ear could affect vision or cure sciatic pain inspired him to develop his theory of an inverted foetal manikin superimposed on the ear. The theory was introduced into China in 1958 and its practice was enthusiastically promoted during the years of the “Cultural Revolution”. However, its French origins have gradually been forgotten in China, where Nogier's schema has been further adapted to fit Chinese medical philosophy.