Internal structure of the ear

The ear is an organ with a relatively complex structure in the human body. Damage to any part of the ear may affect our hearing. Especially the inside of the ear, which we cannot see with our naked eyes, so if there is a problem inside the ear, we can only go to the hospital and use professional instruments to check it. There are many acupoints around the ears, so try not to pick your ears hard to avoid causing ear damage. So, what is the internal structure of the ear?

1. What are the acupuncture points around the ears?

1. Shenmen Point

When you feel heartbroken, upset, or stressed, pressing Shenmen can soothe your body, reduce physiological tension, and relax the autonomic nerves that stimulate your appetite.

Location: Outer contour of the ear

Massage effect: soothes the body and replenishes the heart.

Massage method: Press Shenmen for one minute, then do the same action on the left ear.

2. Stomach Point

When the body feels bloated or indigestion, massaging the stomach points can activate digestive hormones, promote digestion, and also reduce fat accumulation (please enter the Bianstone Medical Cases column in Bianstone Health Care to view more content).

Location: Center of the ear

Massage effect: Promotes the secretion of digestive enzymes, relieves abdominal distension and indigestion, and helps lose weight.

Massage method: intermittent pressure, 30 times for each ear in the morning and evening.

3. Constipation

Constipation is caused by slow gastrointestinal motility or indigestion. Stimulating the constipation points can effectively enhance gastrointestinal motility and promote the excretion of toxins.

Location: Above the inner side of the helix

Massage effect: Promote gastrointestinal motility and eliminate constipation.

Massage method: intermittent pressing, 30 times each for the left and right ears in the morning and evening (the number of massages can be appropriately increased depending on the constipation situation).

4. Endocrine point

Endocrine acupuncture points control the appetite control center in the hypothalamus, reducing the production of hunger hormones, increasing satiety hormones and speeding up metabolism.

Location: Below the inner side of the helix

Massage effect: Promote metabolism.

Massage method: intermittent pressure, 30 times for each ear in the morning and evening.

5. Hunger point

When the stomach and intestines send a "hunger" signal to the hypothalamus that controls appetite, people will have a desire to eat, and pressing the corresponding acupoints can prevent the transmission of signals.

Location: Above the earlobe

Massage effect: effectively suppress appetite and prevent the transmission of hunger information.

Massage method: intermittent pressing, 30 times each on the left and right ears in the morning and evening (the massage effect is better before meals or when you feel hungry).

What are the acupuncture points around the ears?

2. Identify diseases by looking at the ears

As early as in the "Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic", there was a saying that "observe the likes and dislikes of the ears to know their nature." Traditional Chinese medicine has long had methods of assisting in the diagnosis and identification of diseases by observing changes in the color and shape of the ears.

Every part of the human body can find a corresponding position on the ear. When something goes wrong in the body, the related areas of the ear will also react.

A normal person's ears are rosy and shiny, which is a sign of sufficient kidney essence; dry and dull ears may be due to insufficient kidney essence in the body; people with pale ears are often afraid of cold and wind, and have cold hands and feet; red and swollen ears are mostly a sign of "getting angry", which is common in liver and gallbladder fire or damp heat; dry and blackened auricles are common in the late stages of infectious diseases or diabetes. If certain parts of the ear appear as dots or patches of redness, dark red, dark gray, etc., it may be a manifestation of digestive system diseases such as gastritis and gastric ulcer.

If there are nodular or cord-like protrusions or dot-like depressions in the ear, it often indicates chronic organic diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, tumors, etc. The local blood vessels in the ear are too full and dilated, and circular and segmental changes may be seen. This is common in people with abnormal cardiopulmonary function, such as coronary heart disease patients, asthma patients, etc.

Observing the ears is only a part of traditional Chinese medicine's "visual diagnosis". To judge the health status and diagnose diseases, other manifestations of the whole body should be considered. Even if you observe yourself on a daily basis, you should not blindly follow the diagnosis in the book and worry about things that may not happen.

3. 6 ways to massage your ears are good for your health

1. Beat the Heavenly Drum: Place both palms tightly against the ears, cover the ear holes with the palms, and secure them with the thumb and little finger. Use the remaining three fingers together or alternately to knock on the occipital area behind the head, namely the Naohou, Fengfu, and Yamen acupoints. A "dong dong" sound will sound in the ears like beating a drum. This method has the effect of refreshing the mind, calming dizziness and improving hearing. It is not only good for health, but also has a good effect on tinnitus, dizziness, insomnia, headache, neurasthenia and other diseases.

2. Lift the tragus: Place the fingers of both hands together on the inside of the tragus, then use the index finger and thumb to lift the tragus from the inside to the outside. The technique should be from light to heavy, and the pulling force should be limited to a level that does not cause pain. 3 to 5 minutes each time. This method of ear massage can effectively treat headaches, dizziness, neurasthenia, tinnitus and other diseases.

3. Pull both ears: straighten both index fingers, insert them into the two ear holes respectively, rotate 180 degrees, repeat 3 times, and then pull them out immediately. You will hear a "popping" sound in the ears. Generally, pull them out 3 to 6 times. This method of ear massage can make hearing more sensitive and has the effect of strengthening the brain. It has certain therapeutic effects on diseases such as neurasthenia and forgetfulness.

4. Push behind the ears: Place the middle fingers of both hands behind the ears, and push and rub back and forth along the Yifeng, Jimai, back of the auricle, and up and down the Luxi for 20 to 30 times each until the local skin becomes warm. This method has the effect of nourishing the kidneys and liver and lowering blood pressure.

5. Massage the earlobe: Make fists with both hands, and use the thumb and index finger to push and rub the earlobe up and down until the earlobe becomes engorged and hot. This method can strengthen the brain, strengthen the kidneys, improve hearing and eyesight. It can prevent and treat diseases such as impotence, frequent urination, constipation, low back pain, cervical spondylosis, palpitations, chest tightness, headaches and dizziness.

6. Massage the entire ear: After rubbing your palms together until they are warm, massage the ventral surface (the front of the ear) backwards, then massage the back surface forwards repeatedly. Repeat this massage 5 to 6 times. This method can dredge the meridians and has a health-care effect on the kidneys and internal organs throughout the body.

4. Massage the ear acupoints if you feel unwell

The acupoints on the ears are quite complicated, but if we have minor illnesses such as headaches and insomnia, we can massage the acupoints ourselves as an auxiliary treatment.

1. Press the earlobe if your gums are swollen and painful.

The earlobe is equivalent to the face. When your teeth and gums are swollen and painful, or small pimples appear on your face due to "getting angry", you can rub the earlobe with your thumb and index finger, or go to the hospital to prick the earlobe for bloodletting, which has a good therapeutic effect. Regularly massaging the earlobes can also beautify your skin.

2. Press the ear cavity for angina pectoris.

Regularly stimulating the concha cavity, commonly known as the lower ear cavity, has a health-promoting effect on the blood and circulatory system. The lower ear cavity is equivalent to the internal organs of the chest cavity. When you have angina pectoris, you should first stay calm, don't panic, stop activities immediately, rest in bed, it is best to raise your upper body, and then press on the lower ear cavity. The method is to place your index finger at the ear hole and your thumb on the back of the ear and knead it. This is the simplest and most effective first aid method, which can quickly relieve angina pectoris and get through the critical period.

3. Press the upper ear cavity if you have hiccups.

The upper ear cavity, that is, the cymbosum above the concha, is equivalent to the human abdominal cavity. Massaging this area helps digestion and strengthens the kidneys and spleen. Hiccups, known as er ni in traditional Chinese medicine, are caused by weak spleen and stomach, as well as eating raw bad food and overeating, which leads to the upward flow of stomach qi.

4. For insomnia, press both the upper and lower ear cavities.

Insomnia, called "insomnia" in traditional Chinese medicine, is caused by weak heart and spleen. You can press and rub the "heart" point in the lower ear cavity and the "spleen" point in the upper ear cavity above it. You can put your index finger at the ear hole and your thumb on the back of the ear and knead it.

5. Rub the earlobe if you have pain in your limbs.

The outer helix of the auricle is equivalent to the trunk and limbs. Patients with body pain such as neck, shoulder, waist and leg pain should press the helix more.