Ear pressure therapy, also known as auriculotherapy with pressure. This therapy has become popular in recent years and many patients prefer this than using needles.

I. Material and equipment requirement:

(A) the pellet (bead) material: divided into three categories.

1. small particles such as plant seeds Vaccaria seeds, mung beans, semen viticis negundo, mustard seed, rape seed, etc  Vaccaria seeds is most commonly used.

2.  medicine pills, such as liu shen wan, niu huang anti-inflammatory pills, throat pills, pills convulsions in children, Jen Dan.

3. beads with a diameter ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 cm with hardness of between 160 to 380 gauss.

(B) the tape: made ​​into 0.7 × 0.7 cm  small squares.

(C) tweezers, alcohol, cotton balls, etc.

II. the operation:

First use 75% alcohol scrubbed the surface of the ears, and wipe dry with a cotton ball. Following the bottom-up in front of the ear lobe to ear tip portion from the back of the ear lobe portion from Apex to the top-down repeated massage 3 to 5 times. Use a pair of tweezers to pick up the tape with a small object bead in the middle. Place it on selected point, and press to stick.. Then wiggle it until the ear is flushing warm. Then ask the patient to help press 3 to 4 times.

Four pressing techniques can be used:  

(1) the squeezing method: use the  thumb and index finger to hold the outer ear. Use the bead making a circular movement around on the ear to find a sensitive point. Use pressing  releasing  manuver and repeat on each point for about half a minute. To save time, you work on several points at the same time. This kind of stimulation is strong. It is suitable for acute illness and for stronger body type of patients..

(2) direct pressure method: use fingertips (main with index finger) vertically  press the bead on the point until there is a pain sensation. Continue pressing 20 to 30 seconds. Then pause for a moment and repeat the presses.  Press 4 to 6 times per point. This method also produces strong stimulation. The indications are the same as above.

(3) pointing and  pressing method: it is the same as direct pressure method, but it is using lighter force than direct pressure method. Use pressing and releasing method. Each interval is  approximately half a seconds until the patient can somewhat feel the pain. Press for one minute on each point. It is a weak stimulation and is suitable for chronic diseases and for patient with poor health.

(4) Massaging method: use the fleshing part of the finger and press gently on the bead, and turn clockwise on ear to sense until the patient can sense a little pain and some swelling sensation. Press half to one minute on each point. This method is the lightest stimulation, and is suitable for those with chronic sickness, aged and weak.

Third warning:

(A) Do not press too hard on the beads to avoid damaging the skin and cause infection.

(B) Using improper pressure on the beads can cause broken skin and infection, but generally the damages are superficial. Simply remove the pressure. Apply anti-inflammatory and antibiotic ointment (like zinc oxide ointment) will help solve the problem.  During infection treatment, suspend ear pressure treatment.

(C) A small number of patients are allergic to tape. If this happens change the adhesive method or add fengxi SF1, Z1 point.

(D) Do not use this method if there is inflammation on the ear.

耳穴壓丸療法，又稱耳穴壓豆、耳穴貼壓等。是近年興起，頗受病家歡迎的耳穴刺激法。

一、器具：

(一)壓丸材料：分三大類。

(1) 為小顆粒的植物種子如王不留行、綠豆、黃荊子、白芥子、油菜子等，以王不留行子最為常用。

(2) 為中成藥藥丸，如六神丸、牛黃消炎丸、咽喉丸、小兒驚風丸、仁丹等。

(3) 為磁珠，其直徑從0.1～0.2厘米不等，強度在160～380高斯之間。

(二)膠布：製成0.7×0.7平方厘米大之小方塊。

(三)鑷子、酒精棉球等。

二、操作：先以75%酒精拭淨耳廓皮膚，用干棉球擦淨。繼在耳廓前面從耳垂到耳尖部自下而上，耳廓背面從耳尖到耳垂部自上而下反覆按摩3～5次。再用鑷子夾起中間粘有壓物的小方膠布，置於所選之穴區，並將其粘牢壓緊。待各穴貼壓完畢，即予以按壓，直至耳廓發熱潮紅，並囑協助按壓3～4次。按壓手法有以下四種：

(一) 對壓法：即將拇、食二指分置耳廓內外側，挾持壓物，先作左右圓形移動，尋得敏感點後，即採用一壓一放式按壓法，反覆對壓，每穴持續半分鐘左右。為節約時間，可將鄰近數穴同時按壓。本法刺激強烈，適於急性病症及體質較壯實者。

(二) 直壓法：以指尖(多用食指)垂直按壓穴丸，至患者有痛感，持續按壓20～30秒，間隔片刻，重複按壓，每穴壓4～6次。此法刺激亦較強，適應症同上。

(三) 點壓法：按壓方法與直壓法同，但用力較之為輕，且以一壓一鬆的間斷按壓之法，每次間隔約0.5秒，以患者略感脹痛為宜。每次按壓1分鐘。本法為弱刺激，適用於慢性病及體質差者。

(四) 按摩法：用指腹輕輕按壓穴丸，並向順時針方向帶動穴丸在耳朵上旋轉 ，以患者感脹重略痛為度。每次按壓半至1分鐘。此法刺激最輕，適於久病體虛、年老衰弱者。

三、注意事項

(一) 按壓時不可採用使勁搓動壓丸的方法，此法易引起皮膚破損，造成感染。

(二) 耳穴壓丸不當，可引起感染，但一般較表淺，只需取下壓物後，局部塗以消炎軟膏即可。在感染治療期間，暫停耳穴壓丸。

(三)少數病人易對膠布產生過敏，可換粘貼物或加貼壓風溪穴。

(四)耳廓有炎症者，不宜採用本法