Caffeine addiction can be powerful and all too common!
After months of researching Auriculotherapy and finishing up the final stages of our Auriculo 360 program, a business associate and husband of a patient of mine, approached me with a question. He wanted to know if acupuncture could help him overcome his caffeine addiction.
Can it??? I knew the answer right away…. You bet it can, absolutely!
In this video case study you will hear first-hand about his life-long struggles with caffeine addiction—currently drinking 200 ounces per day!
He shares how he has attempted to overcome this addiction in the past on multiple occasions (10 times over the years to be exact) and tells what normally happens day by day through what he calls his “week of hell” during the quitting process.
What changed this time? He simply tried Auriculotherapy. As you will see, the difference is AMAZING….
I absolutely loved helping to create the new Auriculotherapy software.
The program Auriculo 360 was created with my own clinical needs in mind, and has proven to be a valuable resource in my own private practice for myself and also for my patients.
Auriculotherapy may be new to many of you. We’ve compiled a Special Report of Twelve Scientific studies.
You’ll want this report…Click here!
With these tools, I feel confident that I can help more patients.
Have a great week!
Kimberly Thompson, L.Ac.
Acupuncture Research Analyst
Miridia Technology
kimberly@miridiatech.com
@acukimberly
thanks for sharing your story- great results
what type of tool are you using to insert the needles?
Hello DJ,
My favorite tool for inserting needles into the ear is the spring loaded Korean hand needle applicator. It is very simple and the patient hardly feels it.
Kimberly
DJ also asked where I purchased the spring loaded Korean hand needle applicator.
I found mine at GoAcuZone.com
Make sure you order the spring loaded one. There are two options once you click on order.
The link to find it is: http://goacuzone.com/index.php/acupuncture-needles/hand-needles.html
Interesting video and very good results. I also am intrigued at the needles you used – particularly the ‘white one’ which your patient’s workmates noticed. What is different about this? Also I saw that you were stimulating points with your unit – was this included in your treatment protocol for any specific purpose and would needles have served a similar purpose? Did you consider either embedded needles or vaccaria seeds for your patient or is this not part of the protocol? Whilst clearly not having seen the whole appointment, would you tell me whether you swabbed the ear before needling? Please be assured that I am not criticising merely endeavouring to see the whole picture! I am truly impressed with your results!
Great questions. You are right, we obviously didn’t show the whole video of the treatment. I’ll expand…
I always started with a clean field and an alcohol swab in each ear.
I did NOT use embedded needles. I don’t use them because in my experience they tend to get infected too easily.
As far as stimulation goes, I always use the StimPlus Pro to locate electrically active points. Once I found the points I pressed the probe slightly into the ear to make an indentation so that I would know where to put the needle. You could treat with the StimPlus Pro instead of putting needles, but my preference for this patient was needles.
After each treatment I sent the patient home with the NADA protocol (seeds) in the left ear so that he could stimulate as needed when he felt the need. The ‘white one’ that my patient was referring to was a silver pellet under a white circular band-aid cover. This was just a little more obvious because the previous time I used flesh colored covers with vicaria seed. (I didn’t really have a reason that I was using the silver pellet… I was just comparing the effects of seeds versus silver.)
Kimberly
Realy like the new software so far. I am just starting to use auricular therapy. For auricular therapy do you prefer needles or the Stimplus Pro? Or does it depend on the patient’s condition? It is my understanding that in addiction treatments you would use the dominant ear. Why did you do the NADA protocol on the left ear for home treatment? I noticed you treated this patient daily for a few days, what would be your treatment plan and follow-up plan with this patient?
Thanks for the help and information.
Dr. Donald Julien
Hello Dr. Don,
Sometimes I use ear needles and sometimes I use the StimPlus Pro for treatment–depending on the patient, and also depending on how many body needles I have in the patient. I don’t like to over needle… But–I always use the StimPlus Pro to find the active points to treat–whether I choose needles, seeds, or microcurrent for my treatment method.
I did specialized training in NADA therapy. Every symptom possible for addiction can be treated with the NADA protocol. I chose to do a needle treatment for the patient while he was in the office and chose the right ear because he is right handed (Drug Addiction Protocol). I just wanted to supplement the treatment for him over the weekend so I chose to put seeds in the opposite ear before he left. My choice for the opposite ear was simply because I already had needles in right ear.
My original treatment plan was to treat daily for the first 5 days of his cessation period. I like to have people quit their substance on a Sunday and get treated Monday through Friday. This patient didn’t contact me until Wednesday morning–which was his first day quitting. The day I put seeds in we were walking into the weekend and I knew that he may not call me for treatment because he was doing so well. I wanted to place seeds so he had the ability to stimulate them over the weekend for extra support–“just in case”.
I would love to see this patient for follow-up on occasion because I think Acupuncture would be good for him……. That being said–he hasn’t felt the need to come back! He says that he feels PERFECT in relation to his addiction. I treated him on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Monday I treated one more time just for good measure. 🙂
Kimberly
Great work always by Miridia; I have an doubt that spring loaded hand applicator is used in Sujok mostly, Are you using Sujok needle instead of embedded needle.
Kindly let me know what type of needle are you using, what is the needle retention time?
kindly advice.
with regards
s.saravanan
I am using Korean Hand needles.
Kimberly
Thanks, Let me know the needle retention time, after that, Are you put the pellets needle?
Needle retention time for this patient was 20 minutes. I put the pellets in the opposite ear while he was sitting with needles to save time. The pellets stayed in for 3 days.
Kimberly
Kimberly,
Iam somewhat new to auriculotherapy. I have not yet received the auriculotherapy bundle, but am looking forward to using it. I have been using acupuncture, for the past ten years, but never really treated patients using auriculo. I have taken auriculo courses before, but I have noticed as well as Dr. Larsen, the points for certain treatments are in one book versus another, and that can be frustrating. Some states allow you to use ear pellets or seeds while others don’t. I am curious to find out if you would in similar situations, have only used the auriculostim plus, and no pellets at all. Next question, did you even use the acugraph to see where the patient’s energy levels were? I am curious to see what it looked like.
Sincerely,
DRAGON
Dr. Grix,
Absolutely, I would have used just the StimPlus Pro–and sometimes I do. I chose to use the needles because I am very comfortable with using needles. My background in TCM included extensive training in needle therapy. I was introduced to the StimPlus Pro once I started doing research for Miridia Technology. It is now one of my new favorite tools in private practice. If I choose to use needles, then I always use it to locate electrically active points before treatment.
For this patient I felt that it was important to send him home with pellets because I wanted him to have continued support if he needed it. I did not want his withdrawal symptoms to return before he came back to visit me.
Graphs:
On the first day he came in for treatment he had a low PC; and splits in the TE, LR, BL, GB and ST.
On the second day of treatment he had: Low LU, TE and GB; excess in the SP and BL; and splits in the PC, HT, SI, KI and ST. (The only greens were LI and LR)
On the the third day of treatment he had: Low PC; excess in the SP; and splits in the LU, HT, TE, LR, KI, BL. (Green in the SI, LI, GB, ST)
Unfortunately I did not graph when he came in for the final day of the interview…
Kimberly
Dear Kimberly,
Thnak you for your response. It is an awesome feeling, to be able to change someone’s life for the better, especially when the change is night and day for that individual. I myself have seen results like that. Unfortunately for our records the end change, which would be nice to have on the graphs would continue to give the documented proof with energy readings to compare from start to finish, I have been in the same boat, except you were able to get yours on video. Today, I just got a phone call saying how fantastic my patient was feeling and that she will come back if any problems develop, before finishing her treatment plan of five visits. Now, I only wish I had a camcorder, with their permission of course. Congrats to you and thank you very much for sharing the info about the energy readings, it was much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Dr. Grix
exellent
I am assuming that you treated just the NADA points, yes? Are these different than the points on Auriculo 3D program? I see 9 or more points on the program.
Hello Vince,
I was using the protocol for addiction in our Auriculo 3D program. There are multiple addiction protocols in the program beyond NADA. I used NADA as a base, but also checked points such as Endocrine, Brain, Adrenal Gland, and points for headache.
I usually start with a baseline, and then check for reactive points to compliment the treatment.
~Kimberly
Am I right to assume that massage therapist cannot use this in their practice unless they are also trained in acupuncture? What does the training in acupuncture consist of in being licensed ? Very interested in the stimulus pro as an extension to my massage therapy business. I enjoy reading all your post of patient treatment and am very impressed with the results received.
Tks and look forward to hearing back on answers to my concerns.
We have many professionals that utilize the AcuGraph to provide a baseline measure of “Before & After” treatment. Nutritionists, Dieticians, Kinesiologists, Chiropractors, Reiki practitioners and Massage therapists. The “treatment” recommendations are designed for Acupuncturists, however the “measurement” component is a great tool to show the effectiveness of your therapy.
Hello!
I am a 2 year Student of TCM and recent purchased your Stim Plus Pro and have recently been using it on my children and myself. After watching the video I have a couple of questions:
1) I notice that you use the Stim Plus Pro to locate active points on the ear but you then needled those points. First I am wondering why you chose to needle over stimulating with the device. Secondly, I am wondering what type of device you used to insert the needles? I have something similar used for facial acupuncture.
2) Curious how the Acugraph plays into your assessment and treatment. I did not purchase so have not used.
Thank you!
Hello Laura,
Needles versus Stimplus Pro:
Back when I did that study, I wasn’t using the Stimplus Pro as often. I was more familiar with needles at the time. If I were to recreate this study now, I’m pretty sure I would simply use the Stimplus Pro. I use it all the time and get great results with it. In fact, I rarely use needles in the ear these days, except for an occasional Shen Men for relaxation during a needle treatment.
Needle Inserting Device:
When I do use needles, I really like to use Korean Hand Needles along with the Korean Hand Needle Inserter. Here is information on how to purchase that device.
The company that I use is: K.S. Choi
Their website is: GoAcuZone.com
The exact link that shows both the needles and the loader is: http://goacuzone.com/index.php/acupuncture-needles/hand-needles.html
The thing to make sure of when ordering the needle inserter:
• Click on Add to Cart for Hand Needle Inserter ($5.00) once you go to the link that I posted above
• Then they have to click which type of inserter before they finish adding it to the cart. At this point they click on the “Spring Loaded Hand Inserter”
Things I have learned from using these needles:
• When you put a needle into the inserter there is a magnet inside which keeps it in place so it doesn’t fall out when moving it around.
• If you accidentally put in two needles you will jam it up. Easy fix if this happens—just unscrew the top and take the two needles out. They will be stuck onto the magnet.
• In order to come up with the depth that you want to put the needle into the ear, use the screw at the distal end of the inserter. Press as if you are going to insert the needle without having it up
AcuGraph assessment:
I always measure my patient with AcuGraph before doing any treatment. I do this for multiple reasons.
1. It gives me a baseline reading so I can compare from treatment to treatment.
2. AcuGraph tells me where there are imbalances in the meridians. By treating those imbalances first, I get better results with my auriculotherapy treatment.
3. Patients appreciate the ability to see before and after comparisons over a period of time.
I hope these responses help. Let me know if you have more questions.
AND–enjoy your last two years of school. Learn all you can, because the real world is coming soon.
AND–remember that there really is life after college. I promise!
~Kimberly
great.