🌿 Folk Prescriptions

A true story: A long-time smoker constantly suffered from coughing every winter, producing large amounts of sticky phlegm, and the condition worsened over time. He consulted numerous doctors, but his condition showed no improvement. Later, he was referred to a special clinic where a doctor specialized in ear acupuncture. After taking the patient’s history and conducting a physical exam, the doctor took out a small box connected to two wires, each wire attached to a small rod.
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The doctor handed one rod to the patient to hold in his hand, while the other rod was moved across the patient’s ear, emitting a “dududu” sound. The sound varied in volume and rhythm. When the doctor heard a loud, rapid sound, he marked that spot. Thus, four spots were marked on the patient’s ears. The doctor placed small pieces of Vaccaria seeds on adhesive patches, placing one patch on each marked point. Guess what happened? After three days of treatment, the patient’s symptoms improved. After changing the patches and another three days, the cough and wheezing completely disappeared. The ear, indeed, is a mirror of the fetus
The ear connects to the entire body. This principle was understood by ancient Chinese physicians over 2,100 years ago. Ancient medical texts state: “The ear is where the major meridians gather.” Meaning, the ear is a convergence point of vital meridians in the human body. Physicians discovered that many points exist on the ear, and inserting fine needles into these points (ear acupoints) could relieve or eliminate certain symptoms. Over time, this evolved into an important branch of acupuncture—ear acupuncture.
In modern times, the unique ear acupuncture began spreading worldwide. In 1950, Dr. Noël, a French medical doctor, learned that ear acupuncture could treat diseases and became highly interested. Initially, he followed Chinese doctors’ instructions to treat leg pain—indeed, it worked. Word spread, and patients with various pains flocked to him. However, many conditions weren’t covered by Chinese doctors’ guidance. What should he do?
He suddenly had an idea: since the ear represents the whole body, why not find these points himself? Using a thin rod similar to a matchstick, he gently pressed different parts of the patient’s ear, noting where pain occurred—those painful spots must reflect the location of illness in the body.
This insight was brilliant! Headaches, eye pain, toothache, stomachache, gallbladder pain, pancreas pain—he found tender points for all these conditions on the ear. Dr. Noël drew these tender points on an ear diagram. He jumped in surprise: “This looks exactly like a fetus lying upside down!”
This discovery greatly inspired researchers in ear acupuncture. When internal organs are diseased, doctors can now easily locate corresponding points on this “fetal” map. Later, others used “ear acupoint detectors” (the small box with two wires mentioned earlier), scanning the ear like soldiers detecting landmines, identifying tender points. They would needle them or fix small pins like thumbtacks onto the acupoints, or apply medicated patches. It is estimated that currently about 120 different diseases can be treated with ear acupuncture. The mystery remains unsolved
The next question is: why does ear acupuncture cure diseases? Not only you, but medical scientists also want to know the answer. Yet, finding the correct explanation is far more difficult than what Dr. Noël faced. To this day, doctors still haven’t figured it out!
Our ancestors already had an explanation: when internal “yin-yang” balance is disrupted, evil qi prevails and righteous qi weakens, leading to illness. They detailed what yin and yang are, and what constitutes “evil” and “righteous” qi. Ear acupuncture aims to regulate yin-yang, boost righteous qi, and eliminate evil qi to achieve healing. However, modern science cannot detect these yin-yang forces or evil/righteous qi using advanced instruments—meaning, to date, we cannot scientifically verify this ancestral theory.
Some modern medical researchers explain: the ear has extremely rich and diverse nerve distribution. When internal organs become diseased, certain nerves in the ear receive “malicious stimulation.” If treated with needles or drugs, it adds a “beneficial stimulation” to the ear’s nerves. This beneficial signal travels upward to the brain, which processes it and suppresses the malicious signal, thus improving the condition.
But this explanation fails to clarify one issue: nerves exist in every part of the body, and the ear’s nerves aren’t particularly special. Why do internal organ problems specifically manifest on the ear? Is there another reason? Researchers supporting this view cannot answer. Furthermore, how to distinguish between beneficial and harmful stimuli? Can instruments measure them? They lack convincing evidence.
Chinese medical experts conducted experiments: blood samples were drawn from animals and humans before and after ear acupuncture. They found changes in certain chemical substances in the blood after stimulation. For example, the Shanghai Ear Acupuncture Collaborative Group deliberately induced skin inflammation and abscess in dogs. Blood tests revealed increased levels of a compound called “glutathione acid,” indicating higher toxicity when inflamed. After ear acupuncture, glutathione acid levels decreased—suggesting ear acupuncture has detoxifying properties. However, the exact mechanism by which ear acupuncture reduces glutathione acid remains unclear. Hidden within this may be secrets that could astonish scientists!