30 Years After His Passing, Dr. Paul Nogier’s Legacy Has Never Been More Alive
On May 15th, 1996, Dr. Paul Nogier, French physician, physicist, and founder of auriculotherapy passed away in Lyon, France. Thirty years after, his discovery continues to be used by thousands of therapists and doctors every day, across every continent. At Sedatelec, we mark this anniversary with emotion and pride, carrying his vision forward for over 45 years.
Who Was Dr. Paul Nogier? (1908–1996)
Born in Lyon (France) on July 3rd, 1908, Paul Nogier was an unconventional physician driven by extraordinary scientific curiosity. With deep interests in acupuncture, manual medicine, and homeopathy, he dedicated his career to exploring the connections between the ear and the human body.
His founding conviction: the ear is a mirror of the human body.
A bold idea that would forever mark a major turning point in the field of reflexology.
A Life of Discoveries: The Timeline
From his first intuition in 1951 to worldwide recognition by the WHO, here are the key milestones of Dr. Nogier’s work:
1951 | Discovery of the correspondence between auricular reflex points and different parts of the human body: auricular somatotopy (the inverted foetus). |
1956 | Publication of the first ear cartography. |
1965 | Foundation of the Medical Study Group of Lyon (GLEM), dedicated to research and teaching in complementary medicine. |
1966 | Discovery of Auriculomedicine, a detection technique based on taking the radial pulse (RAC/VAS). Through the RAC, he discovers a correspondence between a range of frequencies and various parts of the body and the ear. |
1978 | Sedatelec is founded and creates the ASP® alongside Dr. Nogier, the world’s first sterile semi-permanent needle for the ear. |
1990 | The WHO standardizes the nomenclature of 43 auricular points. The WHO Director General personally honours Dr. Nogier with the “Debt of Honour” of modern medicine. |
30 Years Later: A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Thirty years after his passing, thousands of therapists and physicians use tools born from Paul Nogier’s vision every day. French Auriculotherapy is taught and practiced worldwide, and practitioners continue to help the discipline grow and evolve through their daily work and dedication.
His influence continues to reach further than he could ever have imagined!
"The ear is the key to our well-being." Dr Paul Nogier
Thank You, Dr. Nogier. We Carry On!
At Sedatelec, we carry this legacy with responsibility and passion. Developing quality medical devices, training practitioners, advancing auriculotherapy research: this is how we honour him every day.
On this May 15th, 2026, we think of him with deep gratitude.
