In the early 1950s, doctor Paul Nogier, based in Lyon France, made a significant discovery that laid the groundwork for modern ear acupuncture. His observation began when he noticed cauterized scars, on the ears of patients who reported relief from sciatic pain, after being treated by a Madame Barrin. There is even an ear point Barrin.

This enabled him to look for the painful points of the ear, because he had noticed that when a part of the body experienced pain, the corresponding ear point would also be painful when pressure was applied to it.

Doctor Nogier systematised and developed auricular therapy, based on studying the links between the parts of the auricle, and the different parts of the body, and then applying it in his clinical practice.

He noticed that there was a distinct change in the amplitude and dimension of the radial arterial pulse, when certain points on the auricle were stimulated. This occurs consistently, and is both repeatable and measurable by modern equipment. Dr Nogier called it the Vascular Autonomic Signal.

From here he developed the idea of the modern ear, into a model based on an upside down foetus, an inverted homunculus.

He published this first stage of his work in 1956.