Auricular Therapy is a more recent development in the practice of acupuncture. It is a method of acupuncture applied to the ears of animals. When any part of the body becomes diseased, a pathological point or points may appear in the superficial tissues of the ear. Because this happens, the ear can be an excellent diagnostic aid. The pathological points can be found by a variety of methods, such as the use of a specialized electrical point finder, or sometimes by using a blunt instrument.
Energy is spent in the work of living and is replenished by food and air.
Energy imbalance from external or internal causes is the underlying reason for disease. By treating certain reflex points, sometimes located far from the site of symptoms, the veterinary acupuncturist can assist the body to heal itself by balancing its own vital energies. This balancing is now known to be mediated primarily via the nervous system, but other physiological mechanisms including hormonal and humoral factors are also involved. This balance in turn may be used to adjust blood flow, nervous and muscle tone, hormone levels or the function of the organs. This discovery has since been confirmed by many western studies.