5NP Ear Acupuncture

What is 5NP?

This image is from an article that looked at stress reduction utilizing the 5NP treatment and saw a reduction in stress, measured by serum prolactin levels and skin conduction, in individuals having this treatment compared to a control group.

Where does 5NP come from?

The Treatment

Potential Benefits

A non verbal, community based, approach to healing

5NP is a treatment that involves stimulating 5 points on the outer ear using needles or ear seeds. This treatment has historically been used to help alleviate symptoms of withdrawal from opiates and addictive substances, though its benefits are more widely applicable and beneficial.

The 5 Needle Protocol (5NP) consists of 5 points needled in each ear. The ears are innervated by the vagus nerve, which means that stimulating any point in the ear engages the body’s rest-and-digest and social engagement systems, both of which are crucial in shifting out of trauma and chronic stress responses including fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and/or dissociate.

Use of ear acupuncture points to aid with detoxification was first discovered in China in the 1950s. The 5NP protocol (acudetox) has been in use for the last 40 years here in the United States. This treatment was developed and championed by the Young Lords, the Black Panther Party, Lincoln Detox, and the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) to provide healing to communities that were not getting the access to care that was needed and to provide more humane, easily accessible, and an effective treatment to aid in healing.

When undergoing the treatment at the Journease office, you will be able to relax in an antigravity chair for the procedure. We invite you to create an integration for the treatment and to use this time to relax, not work, and stay off your phone. The provider will give you alcohol pads to clean out the inside of each ear. There will be 5 tiny, sterile needles inserted into each ear. The needles can stay in for up to 40 minutes. If one needle is painful or uncomfortable it can be removed.

The points utilized:

The five points are: (1) The Autonomic Point which calms the nervous system and helps with overall relaxation; (2) the Shen Men or "spirit gate," which reduces anxiety and nervousness; (3) the Kidney Point, for calming fears and healing internal organs; (4) the Liver Point for detoxification, blood purification, and to quell aggression; and (5) the Lung Point, which promotes aeration and helps clients let go of grief.

Resources

https://pocacoop.com/

https://acudetox.com/

https://www.utahacudetox.com/

This specific protocol was originally designed to support people struggling with substance use disorder and the challenges associated with withdrawal and recovery. However, since the needles are activating points around the vagus nerve this treatment may have effects that support a large group of people. In addition, some of the symptoms people in recovery are experiencing are symptoms and emotions all humans experience and struggle with at different points in life. This treatment may provide relief or benefit to people struggling with the following: stress, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, cravings, insomnia, trauma, overwhelm, headaches, chronic pain and more.