48
5 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Principles
interference fields; treatment of the affected ear is contraindicated due to forensic rea-
sons.
■
Tumours
(e.g. basal cell carcinoma)/
’brown spots’
: These should always be docu-
mented; treatment of the affected ear is contraindicated and the patient should be re-
ferred for further investigation.
5.3
Patient Position
■
Treatment couch:
width approximately 80 cm, height approximately 60 cm, ideally
with an adjustable headrest; knee bolsters are helpful in providing spinal support.
■
Patient position:
supine, head turned to the side with the ear to be treated on top. Af-
ter needling, the head can be returned to a central position.
■
Practitioner position:
seated at the top of the couch, behind the patient’s head
Lying down generally has a relaxing effect and helps to prevent needle collapse.
5.4
Which Side to Treat
The following theoretical considerations are intended to make locating pathological points
easier. The principles listed below should be observed:
■ Unpaired organs are always represented on the same side as that organ; e.g. spleen on
the left ear, liver on the right ear.
■ Superordinate points (points which cannot be assigned a specific side [e.g. psycho-
logical points, analgesic points]) that require tonification or stimulation are
generally
found on the side corresponding to the patient’s handedness (= dominant side, e.g. in
right-handed persons on the right-hand side).
■ Superordinate points (points which cannot be assigned a specific side [e.g. psycho-
logical points, analgesic points]) that require sedation or calming are
generally
found
on the side opposite to the patient’s handedness (= non-dominant side, e.g. in right-
handed persons on the left-hand side).
■ The effect of a small number of points depends on whether the dominant or non-dom-
inant ear is treated: e.g. Anxiety on the dominant ear, Worry on the non-dominant ear
(
›
5.4.1 Dominant Side). This will always be pointed out in the text.
5.4.1 Dominant Side
The patient’s handedness determines which ear is dominant. In right-handed people the
right ear is dominant, in left-handed people the left ear.
■ Some points are found only on the dominant ear:
–
Joy
(
›
6.13.2)
–
Anxiety
(
›
6.8.5)
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