Dr Long Wenjun's experience in auriculo-acupuncture

By: Yongping, Tian


Using case histories as examples, the authors describe Dr Long's considerable experience in treating various infectious, painful and persistent diseases with ear acupuncture. 1. Mumps. An 8 year old girl presented with mumps due to accumulation of heat toxins. Ear Apex was bled and she was needled at Antitragic Apex (parotid gland), Pancreas-Gallbladder, Stomach, adrenal and Cheek. The needles were retained for 30 minutes and manipulated every 10 minutes. Five hours later the swelling and pain had decreased, her fever had subsided and her appetite returned. She was given one more treatment for consolidation. 2. Herpes zoster. A 25 year old man presented with herpes blisters after three days of burning pain in the shoulder and neck. He was diagnosed with damp-heat in the Liver and Gallbladder and given Ear Lung, Liver, Pancreas-Gallbladder, Shenmen, Adrenal, Neck and Shoulder. The needles were retained for 30 minutes and treatment was given daily on alternating ears. After four treatments the blisters had dried up and the skin had returned to normal. 3. Paronychia. A 63 year old woman presented with inflammation of the skin next to her left toenail as a result of trimming her nails. She was diagnosed with toxic heat and given Ear Adrenal, Shenmen, Subcortex and Toe on the right ear. The needles were retained for 30 minutes. The following day the treatment was repeated on the left ear after which she was cured. 4. Sciatica. A 43 year old woman presented with acute sciatica accompanied by tenderness from Right Huantiao GB-30 to Yanglingquan GB-34, after having sat motionless on a long bus journey. She was diagnosed with stagnation of qi due cold accumulation and given Ear Sciatic Nerve and Liver. The needles were stimulated strongly every 10 minutes for 30 minutes. After four treatments she was cured. 5. Lichen planus. A 50 year old man presented with lichen planus on both hands. The skin was purplish-brown, painful and itchy, and the symptoms worsened after he ate spicy food and when he put his hands in water. He was diagnosed with stagnation of qi and blood failing to nourish the skin, and Ear Sciatic Nerve, Middle Ear and Finger were cut with a small knife to produce a slight oozing of blood. This was repeated weekly for four weeks until he was cured, and then for another four weeks for consolidation. On follow-up a year later he had had no recurrence.