Examining the effectiveness of auricular acupunctureWhat is auricular acupuncture?Auricular acupuncture has a variety of uses, some with more documented success than others. Auricular acupuncture is an alternative medicine with some documented success in treating anxiety, insomnia, smoking, drug addiction and obesity. Not all studies have generated conclusive positive results, and more research is needed to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure in treating multiple disorders. Acupuncture is an ancient medicinal practice originating from China. The name derives from the Latin acus, meaning "needle", and from pungere, meaning "sting", and involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body. Once inserted, the needles can be manipulated to stimulate the body and achieve healing effects. Auricular acupuncture is acupuncture performed on the ear. Auricular acupuncture treatment is performed on the ear using stimulators such as different types of needles, staples, probes, magnetic balls, fingers, or harmless electrical pulses. The most common method is the insertion of needles. For ear acupuncture, there are different types of needles that can be used, such as a regular half-inch or full-inch needle, press needles, and interdermal needles. Pressing, interdermal needles are pressed into an acupuncture point, and tape is used to keep them in place, as well as providing constant stimulation. The ear is believed to contain an innumerable amount of important and potentially therapeutic acupuncture points. For this reason it is believed that using this type of stimulator on the acupuncture points of the ear causes problems and/or dysfunctions throughout the body. (Suen 135) Why auricular acupuncture...... the focus of the article ...... this alternative medicine in strengthening the legitimacy of their work is that there are even discrepancies between them on how exactly to achieve the results desired. “One of the many methodological problems with auricular acupuncture is that there are so many maps of the ear and there is little agreement regarding the location of the points, lacking a defined anatomical relief on the skin of the ear and its somatotopic correspondences” ( Gori 16). For this alternative method of treatment to become more widespread and accepted as legitimate, more conclusive evidence and more consistent results across more studies need to be achieved, as well as more consistent application of acupuncture itself. Until that time, auricular acupuncture will continue to help people who have experienced its benefits, but it will not receive the attention that a more proven treatment would receive from the masses..