EAR ACUPUNCTURE · CALM, AFFORDABLE, 30-MINUTE SESSIONS
Ear Acupuncture & AcuDetox in Longmont
A calm, 30-minute session that works entirely through points on the ear. It's a simple, affordable way to settle stress, sleep more deeply, and support you through quitting smoking or recovery. You stay fully clothed and simply rest.
30 Minutes
Needle-free ear seeds available
HSA/FSA accepted
Stay fully clothed
What is Ear Acupuncture?
Ear acupuncture, also called auricular acupuncture, treats the whole body using points on the ear alone. The ear works like a miniature map of the body: different areas correspond to different organs, muscles and systems.
Chinese medicine has used the ear for well over 2,000 years. In 1956, French physician Dr. Paul Nogier mapped the ear as an upside-down figure of the body, and that map was later combined with the traditional Chinese one. Today's ear acupuncture draws on both.
Because it only uses the ear, a session is quick, quiet and easy to fit into a busy week, either on its own or alongside a full acupuncture treatment.
What ear acupuncture can help with
Ear acupuncture is especially helpful for anything that involves an overloaded nervous system.
Stress & anxiety
A reliable reset for busy minds and tense bodies.
Recovery support
A gentle companion to counseling and medical care.
Sleep
Calm the nervous system so rest comes more easily.
Emotional overwhelm
Grief, trauma, burnout and big life transitions.
Quitting smoking
Support for cravings, irritability and restlessness.
Pain
Ear points can add pain relief to body acupuncture.
THE FIVE POINT PROTOCOL
What is AcuDetox?
AcuDetox is a standardized ear acupuncture treatment that places five tiny needles in each ear. It was developed in the 1970s at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx to ease withdrawal symptoms, and today it's used around the world for stress, trauma, sleep and recovery support, including in disaster and crisis relief.
The protocol is taught by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA), a nonprofit founded in 1985 to make this treatment accessible to every community.
AcuDetox is the same treatment for everyone, so there's no diagnosis and no need to talk through your history. You simply sit, rest and let your nervous system settle.
Sympathetic · helps the body shift out of fight-or-flight
Shen Men · “spirit gate,” calms the mind
Kidney · grounding and restoring energy
Liver · eases irritability and supports detox
Lung · associated with letting go and breathing easier
What to expect in your session
Private, one-on-one and about 30 minutes from start to finish.
01
Quick check in
We talk briefly about what's going on and choose either AcuDetox or a custom set of ear points.
02
Ear assessment
For a custom treatment, we look at your ears and may use a gentle point finder to locate active points.
03
Needles in
Five fine needles per ear for AcuDetox, or 2–6 points for a custom treatment. Most people barely feel them.
04
Rest ~20 minutes
Put your phone away, close your eyes, breathe. Many people drift into a light nap.
Prefer no needles? Try ear seeds.
Tiny seeds on small adhesive patches are pressed onto the same points. Wear them home for a few days and press them whenever you feel stressed or a craving hits.
How often should I come?
Usually 1–3 times a week until symptoms are under control. Most people do best with a series of 4–12 sessions, depending on how long the issue has been present.
Part of your care team, not a replacement for it. AcuDetox and ear acupuncture work best alongside counseling, support groups and medical care. If you're withdrawing from alcohol or other substances, please do so under a doctor's supervision. Keep taking any prescribed medications unless your prescriber advises otherwise.
Ear Acupuncture Pricing
Ear sessions are priced to make regular care realistic, because consistency is what gets results. HSA and FSA cards are welcome, and we can provide a superbill on request.
Want the full picture? Ear points can also be added to any full acupuncture treatment.
Private ear acupuncture or AcuDetox
$45
30 minutes · one-on-one · book online
Discounts available for Active Military & Veterans
Ear acupuncture FAQs
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Most people feel a quick pinch as each needle goes in, then very little. The ear can be a bit more sensitive than other areas, but the feeling fades within moments as you relax.
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Yes. AcuDetox is the current name for the five-point ear protocol taught by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA). If you've heard it called “the NADA protocol,” it's the same treatment.
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Many people use it to take the edge off cravings, irritability and restlessness while they quit. It works best as part of a plan, so pair it with a quit date, support and, if you choose, guidance from your doctor.
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Regular acupuncture uses points all over the body, chosen after a full Chinese medicine assessment. Ear acupuncture uses only the ear, so it's shorter, more affordable and doesn't require changing clothes. Many patients use both.
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Not for AcuDetox. It's the same five points for everyone, so you can share as much or as little as you like.