Los Alamos, New Mexico
A quiet seat for a busy mind
Group ear acupuncture for people managing stress and poor sleep. You sit in a recliner, fully clothed, with a few fine needles in each ear, or with ear seeds if you would rather skip needles.
- Seated and clothed
- Needles or ear seeds
- About 45 minutes
The five-point ear protocol
Five points in each ear, and a room to rest in
The five-point ear protocol, also called the NADA protocol, is a short set of points on the outer ear. It is used the same way for everyone in the room, so there is nothing to explain and nothing to undress for.
You settle into a recliner with a blanket. If you choose needles, Ismael places five fine, single-use needles in each ear in a couple of minutes, then leaves the room quiet. Most people close their eyes. Some doze. Some just watch the light move across the plants.
A session, in short
Seated in a recliner, fully clothed
Fine needles or ear seeds, your choice
About 45 minutes in a quiet room
Up to six people at a time
Needles or no needles
It is your call, every time
Some people want the needles, some want to start without them. Both use the same five points.
Fine needles
Five thin, single-use needles in each ear, left in place while you rest. Ismael takes them out at the end of the session.
Ear seeds
Tiny seeds held on the ear with a small piece of tape. No needle at all. Press them gently on your own between sessions if you like.
Try one, then the other
Start with seeds and move to needles, or the other way around. You can change your mind between sessions.
Stop whenever you want
Say so and Ismael takes the needles out. You can stay in your chair for the rest of the session.
Where it came from
A simple idea from community clinics
The five-point ear protocol grew out of community clinics in the 1970s. Acupuncturists there wanted a way to see many people at once, so they settled on the same few points for everyone and sat people together, fully clothed, in a quiet room.
That is still how it is mostly offered: in a group, in chairs, without a long intake. It is one tool among many, offered alongside your doctor's care and never in place of it, and what people notice differs from one person to the next.
The room, in numbers
45 min
A group session, start to finish5
Points in each ear6
Recliners in the room
Sample figures.
Questions
What people ask first
More answers are on the questions page.
Does it hurt?
Most people feel a brief pinch or a small ache as a needle goes in, and then very little. Everyone is different. Tell Ismael what you feel and he will adjust a needle or take it out. If needles are not for you, ask for ear seeds instead.
Are the needles clean?
Yes. Each needle is sterile, comes from a sealed pack, is used once and goes straight into a sharps container. Ismael washes his hands and cleans the ear before he places anything.
How many sessions do people plan for?
Many people come once or twice a week for a few weeks and then decide whether to keep going. That is a plan you and Ismael make together, and it is never a promise of a result.
What should I wear, and should I eat first?
Wear what you have on. Sleeves and hair that move away from your ears help. Have something light to eat beforehand, because coming hungry can leave you light-headed.
Will I have to change my medicine?
No. Keep taking what your prescriber has given you, and tell your prescriber about everything you take, including sleep aids and supplements. Ear acupuncture is something you add to your care, not a change to it.
When should I see someone else?
If poor sleep or a low mood goes on for weeks, gets worse, or starts to get in the way of work or home, please talk with your doctor or a therapist as well. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), any time. In an emergency, call 911.
Sleep and stress
Come and sit for a while
Group sessions run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Write or call and Ismael will hold a chair for you.
