Acupuncture, an alternative form of therapy originating in China, has gained immense popularity throughout the world today, especially in Western nations. People go to an acupuncturist for a variety of reasons, either to heal physical pain, balance emotional energy, or just to simply relax and quiet their mind. Acupuncturists place needles in certain meridian points in the body, believed to stabilize or unblock stagnant energy in the body.

On the ears, you can find three major points to massage or do acupuncture on; giving these spots attention can do everything from healing mental imbalances to aligning chakras to helping you manage stress more effectively.

We will explain in further detail below.

Here’s what happens when you massage these 3 spots on your ear:

1. Shen Men

The ancient Chinese actually called this point on the ear the “Heavenly Gate.” 

That’s because it draws divine energy from the universe into the body, making it a very powerful massage and acupressure point. Just underneath the helix at the top part of your ear, you will find this acupressure point. Because it is known as a master point, massaging it gently for just a few minutes each day can heal ailments such as anxiety, depression, inflammation in the body, etc.

You can either use a Q-tip or your fingers to massage the Shen Men point, just make sure to use small, circular, gentle motions in order to activate the incredibly powerful healing energy.

2. Point Zero

Dr. Paul Nogier, a French neurologist, actually invented auriculotherapy, or ear acupuncture, publishing his results in 1957. He found that the ear perfectly mirrors an inverted fetus, with Point Zero representing the exact centerpoint of the ear. If you compare this point to the midpoint in the human body, it would align perfectly with the solar plexus chakra.

So, by massaging this point in your ear, you can bring your body back into perfect alignment, regulating the brain and hormones in the process. This point of the ear, known as the crus of helix, lies near the vagus nerve, which directly connects the brain and the gut. By stimulating this point on the ear, many believe it can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which will bring a great calming energy to the body.

3. Sympathetic Autonomic Point

Located on the inner part of the helix, massaging this point on the ear helps to calm the body’s “fight-or-flight” response, designed to prompt us into action and pump adrenaline throughout our bodies in the face of danger. However, in modern society, many people unfortunately live in a constant state of fear and stress, because their sympathetic nervous system is simply overwhelmed and overstimulated.

Simply put, we do not give our bodies and minds near enough self-care and time to decompress as we should, which makes our systems have to work that much harder in order to maintain functionality. However, giving attention to this part of your ear can give your body and mind a chance to restore itself and heal from all the stresses you face each day.

Massaging this point on your ear also helps instill a regular heartbeat, eliminate stress, relax the muscles, and bring the nervous system back into a state of tranquility.

The whole idea behind any alternative therapy, especially acupressure and acupuncture, is to bring awareness back into the body. In our frenzied world, many of us become disjointed and greatly disconnected from our bodies, and therefore, we open ourselves up to disease and misfortune. By reconnecting with ourselves and giving our bodies the self-care and attention they deserve, we can bring ourselves back into alignment, and learn to live in a state of bliss once again.