Book review
Auriculotherapy manual: Chinese and Western
systems of ear acupuncture
Oleson T. Published by Churchill Livingstone
Elsevier, 4th edition, 2014. 464 pp. £50–£60.
ISBN: 978-0-7020-3572-2
Who could fail to be intrigued by
the unconventional and unlikely
concept of auricular (or ear) acu-
puncture? Anatomy teaches that the
auricle acts as a funnel to concen-
trate sound waves for hearing. The
idea of a microsystem of the entire
body being represented in this
small area is surprising in itself.
That this has been mapped out,
and furthermore can be used to
treat a variety of diverse conditions
of the human body from musculo-
skeletal pain to addiction to endo-
crine and immune disorders, can be
a step too far for the sceptical and
appears a magical concept even for
the open-minded.
Terry Oleson is Professor of
Psychology at Ryokan College and
Director of Doctoral Studies at
Emperor’s College of Traditional
Oriental Medicine, Los Angeles,
California, USA. He has been
researching auricular diagnosis
since the 1970s, and is a revered
and respected international expert
and lecturer in the field. He is the
present and founding President of
the Auriculotherapy Certification
Institute. The 4th edition of his
book ‘Auriculotherapy Manual:
294
Chinese and Western Systems of
Ear Acupuncture’ (first published
in 1996 with revisions in 1998 and
2003) sets out to “explain both the
theoretical basis and clinical prac-
tice of auriculotherapy so others
may know of its value”. He does
not disappoint. His enthusiasm and
wonderment for the subject is con-
veyed in his writing. He presents
current clinical observation and
ongoing academic research, includ-
ing that presented at international
conferences in 2010 and 2012, in
clear understandable language.
The text goes far beyond the
concept of a manual. It is not only
a ‘book of instruction’, but also a
clear and comprehensive guide to
the history and development of
auricular therapy in the East and
West—the anatomy, the embryo-
logy of the ear, the energetic view
in Traditional Chinese Medicine
and the neurophysiological
approach in the West—and to the
ever increasing body of research in
the subject. The ambiguities in aur-
icular point location, inevitable
with systems developing independ-
ently in the East and West, are
hugely simplified by presenting
both, usually on the same page and
often on the same auricular photo-
graph. Most acupuncture courses
devote only cursory time and
attention to ear acupuncture, often
with a diagram depicting an
upturned fetus transposed on the
external ear or a diagram so
complex that the student can only
blink in surprise. Terry Oleson
explains the theoretical and clinical
aspects of auricular acupuncture in
a structured and comprehensive
format. He has that rare gift of
writing in such a way that he
manages to simplify what could
otherwise be a complex, intricate
and daunting subject, sharing his
enthusiasm so that the reader
wants to take in more and having
Marlow A-M. Acupunct Med 2014;32:294–295. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2014-010591
Acupunct Med: first published as 10.1136/acupmed-2014-010591 on 9 May 2014. Downloaded from http://aim.bmj.com/ on 24 November 2018 by guest. Protected by copyright.
reached the clinical chapter can’t
wait to get started.
What’s new in the 4th edition (the
3rd was already excellent)? I have
always struggled with ‘flat’ ear dia-
grams. Where exactly is the point? Is
that a valley or a mountain? How
can I transpose a diagram of the
right ear to the left? This difficulty
has been resolved by the inclusion in
this new edition of images of the ear
based on three-dimensional technol-
ogy and photographs of the external
ears of several subjects. Point loca-
tion, as well as being described in the
text, is clearly illustrated in both the
right and left ears on the same page
and from slightly different angles, so
that the exact nuance of point loca-
tion and landmarks on the ear can
be more clearly identified. The text
is adjacent to the illustrations, avoid-
ing the irritation of flicking from
page to page (it sounds obvious, but
that is my experience of books on
auricular acupuncture and I have
looked at many). I also researched
20 conditions and they were all
there in the index, the treatment pro-
tocols were clear, and all the recom-
mended points clearly marked on
the adjacent diagrams without
further search.
Comparing the old diagrams (in
the 3rd edition) with the new is
akin to having a cataract removed
and suddenly being able to see in
high definition. Each chapter is
clearly laid out with contents,
learning objectives, a glossary of
key terms used in the chapter and,
finally, review questions, a useful
learning tool for the reader. This is
particularly so for the beginner
faced with a huge volume of new
information, but also helps the old
‘pro’ who might otherwise be
tempted to skip that chapter!
Terry Oleson is to be congratulated
on this excellent 4th edition, produ-
cing in one volume a highly readable
reference and comprehensive guide

to auricular acupuncture for both
the beginner and experienced practi-
tioner, and at the same time a prac-
tical manual for easy reference in the
clinic. It is quite clear that the 4th
edition is the synthesis of a huge
amount of thought, reflecting sug-
gestions from readers of previous
editions and the use of modern
photographic techniques. The result
is superbly laid out in text of a read-
able size, simplifying point location
out of all recognition. This volume is
a sensible and excellent investment
for any practitioner who has an
interest in (or would like to learn
Marlow A-M. Acupunct Med 2014;32:294–295. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2014-010591
about) auricular acupuncture and
wishes to develop their skills. It is
also very competitively priced. It is
likely to become the standard text
on the subject and one to which you
would frequently refer, like an old
friend.
An electronic version, or at least
an App of the auriculotherapy
treatment protocols with three-
dimensional diagrams for ease of
reference in the clinic, would be a
useful addition. This would be par-
ticularly helpful for the beginner,
but I would still want a friendly
hardback copy in my library.
Book review
Anne-Marie Marlow
Acupunct Med: first published as 10.1136/acupmed-2014-010591 on 9 May 2014. Downloaded from http://aim.bmj.com/ on 24 November 2018 by guest. Protected by copyright.
Correspondence to Dr Anne-Marie Marlow,
BMAS, BMAS House, 3 Winnington Court,
Winnington Street, Northwich CW8 1AQ, UK;
annemariemarlow@gmail.com
Competing interests None.
Provenance and peer review Not
commissioned; internally peer reviewed.
To cite Marlow A-M. Acupunct Med
2014;32:294–295.
Published Online First 9 May 2014
295