Ear Stapling...don't do it!

Considering auricular therapy is one of my specialties, I was intrigued when I received a call asking if I did 'ear stapling'. At first I thought maybe the person meant ear needling but I soon found out that was not the case. Just from hearing about what this was from her I knew 1) it was a scam and 2) probably started by a chiropractor looking for another way to massacre our profession. Now that may seem harsh to those of you who know I refer to chiropractors often, but this is really a heinous thing that is being marketed as an easy weight loss fix that could have dire consequences. Not only is there the obvious risk of infection, but to hear that people are able to buy kits online and even taught to take it out themselves makes me shudder.

After doing more research I found so many horror stories, and the success stories I read started to read much like a marketing scheme..surprise, surprise. I even found a website with someone teaching this for a fee so you could do this and make "lots of money", and a website where a CMT trademarked her own technique. The japanese, french and chinese auricular masters must be turning in their graves..at least the ones who haven't reincarnated.

Are there auricular therapies for weight loss? Of course. These often use the appetite control center within the ear, maybe incorporating the NADA protocol especially if food is an addiction. But even that is too simple. There are many aspects to weight gain and weight loss one must address which a certified, professional acupuncturist/nutritionist will hopefully also address.

Why might this work and how is it explained? Well, just like stomach stapling...the person that came up with this decided to staple the stomach repesentation in the ear. Seems simple and obvious doesn't it. Well, no organ in the ear is meant to have a staple in it for 3-4 months. So, how does it work? My sarcastic guess is that you are in so much pain you don't eat as much. Plus the wishful thinking effect can be very effective especially when you read only the pros to allowing someone to do this to you.

I cannot express how horrified I am by this technique and scam. Just like any 'sounds too good to be true' idea....it is. And even worse is that this can have dire consequences.

There just is no fast and easy way to lose weight....and in my opinion this is just another way to make a "practitioner" rich at your expense.