Foot reflexology · zone
Ear centre — Right ear
Placement
Location: On the crus of the helix — the ridge that runs backwards from the anterior wall of the auricle and divides the concha into the cymba above and the cavum below. The point sits at the middle of that ridge.
Longitudinal zone(s): of 5
Side: right ear
Tradition: WHO auricular nomenclature
Traditional use
Named in the standard nomenclature as the helix-crus point; in the Chinese chart tradition it is the point charted as the diaphragm and is a routine part of upper-abdomen point selections.
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
The skin here lies directly on auricular cartilage and is usually tender; never work an ear with broken, inflamed or infected skin, since perichondritis of the auricle is a recognised complication of ear needling and piercing.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the ear centre reflex area on the ear?
On the crus of the helix — the ridge that runs backwards from the anterior wall of the auricle and divides the concha into the cymba above and the cavum below. The point sits at the middle of that ridge.
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?
The skin here lies directly on auricular cartilage and is usually tender; never work an ear with broken, inflamed or infected skin, since perichondritis of the auricle is a recognised complication of ear needling and piercing.
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