As the saying goes, "Look at the ear to know the life span, touch the ear to cure all diseases".
Folk have always regarded the large ear as a symbol of blessing and longevity, is there any evidence of the relationship between the ear and life expectancy in modern medicine?
"Life Times" (search for "LT0385" in WeChat can follow) interviews experts to answer your questions and teach you a set of massage techniques for your ears, turning your ears into your own health tools.
Experts interviewed
Professor Wang Tong, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Professor Yang Li of china Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Wang Peng, deputy chief physician of the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine
Characteristics of old life stars: large ears, long earlobes
What do scientists think about the relationship between ear size and longevity?
A survey by Nobuyoshi Hirose, an elderly physician at Keio University School of Medicine in Japan, found that centenarians have a common trait: either the ears are large or the earlobes are long.
The ear is made up of cartilage, which reduces friction between joints. A large ear may mean that cartilage tissue is more synthetic, and the chance of arthropathy is smaller, so it will live longer.
However, there are also different views that the human ear can continue to grow throughout life, averaging 1.4 to 2.2 mm in length every 10 years. Therefore, it is not that people with large ears live longer, but that people with longer ears grow larger.
There are two interpretations of the relationship between the ear and longevity.
1
Multiple meridians converge in the ear
From a meridian point of view, many of the body's meridians are connected to the ears. In the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic, it is mentioned: "The ear is also the gathering of the sect's veins." This means that many branches of the meridians pass through the ears.
Therefore, changes in the function and form of the ear reflect the situation of meridian qi and blood in the body to a certain extent, which in turn affects health and life.
2
The ear reacts to organ function
In the theory of Chinese medicine, there are sayings that "the kidneys open to the ear" and "the heart is sent to the ear". Therefore, if there is a problem with the function of the two organs of the heart and kidneys, it can be reflected in the ear.
Heart and kidney physiological function is normal, sufficient qi and blood, patency, the ear can play the auditory function normally, the shape and size is generally 5 to 8 cm, the size of the Chinese ear is generally about 6 cm, the width is half the length, about 3 cm, and the ear flesh is thick, the color is moist.
The ear is a symbol of the abundance of kidney essence and full of heart, the kidney is responsible for the growth, development and reproduction of the human body, and the heart is the "official of the monarch" of the human body, dominating the functional activities of the internal organs, so the ear is to a certain extent one of the symbols of longevity.
There is a "miniature" of the human body on the ear
The "holographic theory" of Chinese medicine believes that the ear is also a microcosm of the physiological function of the human body, and there are five internal organs and reaction points of various tissues and organs on the ear, and the arrangement of each reaction point is like an upside-down fetus.
The earlobe reflects the condition of the head and face; the ear chakra reflects the spine, including the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, shoulder blades, etc.; the cochlea reflects the internal organs, the external ear canal mouth is the heart and lungs, and the internal places are the spleen, stomach, liver, gallbladder, etc.
If there is tenderness, redness and swelling at the reaction point, it indicates that there is a problem with the corresponding organs, tissues and organs.
Kidney deficiency
The earlobes, pinna, etc. appear atrophied, dry, and the color will also become black.
get angry
The ears are red and swollen, mostly caused by "fire", and there may be pus and polyps.
Red dots
If the ear is locally dotted or flaky red, dark red, dark gray, etc., it may be a digestive system disease such as gastritis and gastric ulcer.
The blood vessels bulge
The blood vessels on the back of the ear are too full, indicating that there may be cardiopulmonary abnormalities, such as coronary heart disease, asthma, etc.
Ears are related to longevity, but not absolutely. Some people have small ears, but if they can be actively maintained, they can also live a long life; some people have large ears, but they may have the "three highs" problem, the body is accompanied by chronic diseases, and it is not easy to live a long life if it is not well controlled.
TCM teaches you a set of "ear exercises"
The ears that gather meridians and connect the internal organs are distributed with 93 ear points. Often take out 3 to 5 minutes to rub, rub, can play an unexpected health effect.
Drumming
Exercise your listening
When the fingers tap the back of the head, the ear can hear a sound similar to the beating of the drum, hence the name "Mingtian Drum".
Technique: Rub the palms of your hands warmly and cover your ears; put your index finger on your middle finger and gently flick two fingers on the back of your head to make a sound.
Tapping 60 to 80 times a day can play a role in exercising ear function, making the ear more sensitive, and insomnia patients can also try.
Rub the earlobes
Maintain the facial features
The earlobe corresponds to the head and face of the human body, including the eyes, ears, teeth, tongue, tonsils and other organs. When there is toothache, mouth and tongue sores, sore throat, tinnitus and other symptoms, it can be relieved by pressing the earlobe.
Technique: Use the thumb and index finger of the left and right hands to massage the earlobe at the same time, first rub the earlobe hot, and then pull the earlobe down 15 to 20 times to make it slightly warm.
Press the ear nails
Regulates digestion and coughing
The acupuncture points corresponding to the internal organs are mainly distributed in the ear nails.
The upper ear armor boat corresponds to the abdominal cavity and is often used to relieve diarrhea, constipation, prostatitis, cholecystitis and so on.
The lower ear nail cavity corresponds to the chest cavity and is often used to relieve cough, asthma, chest tightness, angina, etc.
The site where the ear nail boat and the cyroid cavity meet is the stomach, and people with gastritis, stomach ulcers, and indigestion can press here more.
Method: Use the thumb and index finger of the left and right hands to knead the ear nail part on the inside and outside of the ear at the same time, and press it about 20 times.
Press the triangle nest
Improves the reproductive system
Technique: Use the thumb and index finger of the left and right hands to knead the triangular fossa area on the inside and outside of the ear at the same time.
Press the ear boat
Care for hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders
The ear vessel corresponds to the upper limbs of the human body, from top to bottom, the fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, and collarbones.
People with upper limb discomfort such as frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, wrist pain, and numb fingers often have pain response points at the ear boat.
Technique: You can look for pain response points in the ear boat area, rub it with your thumb and index finger, or directly press the inside and outside areas of the ear boat with your thumb and index finger.
Press the opposite ear wheel
Relieves lower back and leg pain
The ear chakra corresponds to the part of the human trunk, the upper 2/5 is the lumbosacral vertebrae, the middle 2/5 is the thoracic vertebrae, and the lower 1/5 is the cervical spine, many people with waist soreness and neck pain can press here.
There are also two forks upward to the ear chakra, corresponding to the hip, sciatic nerve and lower limbs, and people with sciatica, knee arthritis, heel pain, etc. can press here more.
Technique: You can gently pinch these areas directly with your fingernails, or look for the most painful parts near the acupuncture area.
The technique is from light to heavy, and the strength of pulling and pinching is limited to not feeling pain. Finally, the massage of the ear acupuncture does not have to be precise in position, the focus is on stimulating the corresponding acupuncture area of the ear and adhering to it for a long time. ▲
Editor: Jie Zhang
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