The ear can be used as both a diagnostic and a treatment option.
There are hundreds of acupuncture points in the ear and the use of this “microsystem” is very effective in treating a wide range of ailments.
When looking at the human ear, imagine it is as an upside-down person: the lobe is the head, the back (helix) is the spine, the upper area of the inner portion (cymba concha) represents the lower organs, and the lower area of the inner portion (cavum concha) represents the upper organs, such as the heart and lungs.
When using the ear as a diagnostic, one looks at the color, creases, shape, and size of specific areas of the ear. Pressing on specific points that are sensitive can also indicate an issue in specific areas of the body.
One of my teachers once told me a story about a young woman patient who had an unusual bump on her ear. This bump was located at the “uterus” ear acupuncture point. My teacher asked her if she was pregnant, but it was not until a week later that the patient was pleasantly surprised that she was expecting a baby!
Another notable diagnostic is a deep diagonal crease in the ear lobe. A 1989 study in the British Heart Journal (now known as Heart), showed a strong correlation between this ear lobe crease and heart disease. See link
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1216678/
Ear acupuncture can be done as part of a whole body treatment or can also be done as a stand-alone treatment for individuals or groups. Ear massage is an easy at home treatment that you can learn and can be used in conjunction with regular acupuncture treatments.