New ear stapling fad claims to curb appetites

Crash diets, plastic surgery, "miracle pills" and extreme workouts are the most common ways to shed off those extra pounds.

However, a new fad is gaining popularity and due to its price and supposed success, it is sweeping the nation one ear at a time.

Those who perform the acupuncture ear stapling procedure claim that by inserting a tiny, surgical staple into the ear, it will trigger certain pressure points that may curb appetites, reduce stress, relieve pain, and may even help one to quit smoking.

"I must admit, I was a little skeptical at first considering all the gimmicks that are out there. But once I had it done I couldn't believe it," says mother of two, Judy Kramer, 34, of Pittsburgh. Kramer explained how the staple helped her lose 15 pounds in two months.

For centuries, acupuncture has been a technique used by many to help certain symptoms. However, the process of traditional acupuncture, which places tiny needles along the body targeting pressure points, requires many visitations and can be very costly.

"With the 'Acu-staple,' it is a semi-permanent form of acupuncture which really increases its capabilities and maximizes your results," says certified ear-stapler and RN, Cindy Pace from Pittsburgh. According to Pace, the average price of this not-so-tedious procedure ranges from $60-$80, which generally includes both ears.

If one decides to take part in this new trend of ear stapling, the side effects and precautions are limited to but include infection and perhaps inability to work.

According to Acu-staple.com, auriculotherapy or ear puncture utilizes the body's micro system of the ear to treat the body. It has been scientifically shown that different points in the ear demonstrate higher electrical conductivity which will, in turn, increase energy to an area of imbalance and will potentially result in improvement in the physical as well as energetic state of the body.

Trevor Jarvis, 21, a Pittsburgh resident who received the procedure, said the feeling that overcomes the recipient is unexplainable. "I can't really describe it, but you feel a lot better about yourself and it looks pretty cool too," he said.

The centimeter or so staple is hardly noticeable in one's ear, but Jarvis says that many people ask him if it is some type of industrial piercing.

Results should be noticeable within seven to 10 days and most "staplers" offer free removal or free readjustment in case the staple isn't hitting the desired pressure points.

I wouldn't be surprised if real acupuncture could be effective for appetite suppression or quitting smoking, but it si contrary to the theories of real acupuncture (and concrete biological/medical science) that permanent installation of the "needle" would have a similar effect to periodic brief acupuncture treatment. The body quickly adjusts to the presence of an acupuncture needle, and stops responding at that site (though secondary effects may continue for days or weeks afterwards).

Having undergone electroacupuncture in the past, I can attest to this effect at least in that technique. It uses a TENS unit which generates a small electric current (these are also used in allopathic medicine) attached to the needles. At first you can feel a tingling at the puncture site (sensation strength depends how strong the current is set for), but after lying there for 20 minutes, even a tingling sensation strong enough to be bordering on pain at the outset has diminished to where you can't feel it at all. Your nerves figure out that the thing they were generating responses to is unimportant/unchangeable and no longer needs to be reported to the brain.

Of course there may be an extra placebo effect here. Not only does the person who had it done obviously think it may work, but it's so readily visible and odd that the stapled person inevitably has to explain it to his/her friends. Extra incentive to eat less and exercise more comes from the realization that you'll be the laughing stock of your social circle if you end up having to explain that it "didn't work" because it's clear you haven't lost any weight. In fact, it probably generates external reinforcement of this effect, by causing skeptical friends to periodically inquire "So is that staple in your ear working at all?", thus reminding the stapled person that "Oh sh!!, my friends think I'm really stupid and they're going to keep thinking that unless I lose a noticeable amount of weight".

I don't expect you Whipper Snappers to know this but back in the Early 1980's it was the rage to tape a pair of Cow Magnets to your fuel line and it was reported it would improve your cars mileage.

The magnets are about 1 inch wide and 3 inches long and the farmer forces one down into one of the cows stomachs where it will catch any metal that is in the feed a cow eats and reduce injury to that Holstein worth a couple of thousand dollars.

I tried them on both of our vehicles for a friend in the repair business to test them. There was zero difference but he had customers swearing to him that they were miracle so he bought a case of them and charged big bucks to these believers and had them sign a disclaimer he had drawn up...

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