Western Medicine and Auriculotherapy: a comparative analysis of two paradigmatic approaches to the external ear

Abstract

The external ear is an often overlooked structure that serves several important functions in humans and in other species. Western Medicine conceives of the external ear in terms of its function, embryology, innervation and clinical syndromes with auricular manifestations. Non‐western traditions, however, perceive the external ear in a way that challenges the paradigm accepted in Western Medicine. The purpose of this study was to assess the different approaches to auricular morphology and function, and to see whether or not there is something to be gained, in terms of Western Medicine's understanding of anatomy and function, by looking at non‐Western traditions. A review of Western and Chinese literature was conducted. Results show that a general understanding of the external ear in Chinese Medicine is based upon a “somatotopic map” (i.e., different regions of the auricle are believed to correspond to different areas of the body). This map provides the basis by which general medical conditions can be both diagnosed and treated using the modality known as “auriculotherapy” which includes, but is not limited to, auricular acupuncture. While this model appears to be outside of accepted Western Medical dogma, auriculotherapy is in fact closely related to such familiar entities as referred otalgia, as well as well‐documented, neurally‐mediated reflexes involving the external ear.