Foot reflexology · zone
Ear apex — Right ear
Placement
Location: At the tip of the helix — the point that comes to lie uppermost when the auricle is folded forward towards the tragus. It is on the free rim, at the very top of the ear.
Longitudinal zone(s): of 5
Side: right ear
Tradition: WHO auricular nomenclature
Traditional use
A long-standing bleeding-and-pressure point in the Chinese tradition and one of the best-known named helix points in the standard list.
Reflexology is a traditional practice, not an evidence-based medical treatment. Systematic reviews have not shown it to be effective for any medical condition. These maps document what practitioners traditionally use — they are not claims about how the body works.
Care and caution
On the free rim the skin is thin and directly over cartilage; this is the site most often used for bleeding techniques, which are outside the scope of self-applied pressure and should not be improvised. Take particular care with anyone on anticoagulants or with a bleeding disorder: the auricle is highly vascular and even superficial pressure tools can bruise it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the ear apex reflex area on the ear?
At the tip of the helix — the point that comes to lie uppermost when the auricle is folded forward towards the tragus. It is on the free rim, at the very top of the ear.
Which tradition does this placement come from?
WHO auricular nomenclature. The major schools broadly agree on this placement.
Does pressing this area treat the organ it is named after?
No. Reflexology maps are traditional diagrams, not descriptions of anatomy or physiology. Systematic reviews have not found reflexology to be an effective treatment for any medical condition.
Is there anything to be careful about?
On the free rim the skin is thin and directly over cartilage; this is the site most often used for bleeding techniques, which are outside the scope of self-applied pressure and should not be improvised. Take particular care with anyone on anticoagulants or with a bleeding disorder: the auricle is highly vascular and even superficial pressure tools can bruise it.
Sources
References displayed on this page were recorded with the point dataset.
- World Health Organization, Report of the Working Group on Auricular Acupuncture Nomenclature (Lyon, 1990) Standard anatomical nomenclature of the auricle and the standard auricular point list agreed by the WHO working group
- GB/T 13734, Nomenclature and Location of Auricular Points (Chinese national standard) Auricular point names and anatomical locations, by auricular subregion