The EASE Framework: A Scalable Auricular Self-Care Approach for Mental Health Promotion

Mental health and emotion regulation are central to resilience and quality of life across the lifespan, yet scalable, low-burden strategies that complement clinical care remain limited. Auricular interventions—including auricular acupuncture, auriculotherapy, device-based auricular stimulation, and noninvasive self-care approaches—have attracted increasing interest for stress, mood, sleep, and autonomic regulation. However, the field remains fragmented across point systems, mechanistic models, delivery methods, dosage, reporting practices, and implementation pathways. In this perspective, we propose the EASE Framework—Ear-wide engagement, Acupoint-informed prioritization, Self-administration, and Evaluation of emotional and related outcomes—as a pragmatic model for scalable manual auricular self-care. EASE builds on established auricular medicine while incorporating contemporary afferent-based concepts, including vagal and other auricular afferent pathways, as complementary mechanistic support. We review clinician-delivered, device-based, and self-care auricular methods; identify key translational gaps; and outline a four-step workflow that progresses from Shenmen stimulation to inner-ear stimulation from the cymba to the cavum conchae, front-and-back ear contact, and whole-anterior-ear rubbing. The framework includes three dosage tiers (Short, Moderate, and Long) to accommodate diverse settings and user needs. EASE is presented as a population-oriented mental health and well-being promotion framework and as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, evidence-based clinical care. By emphasizing standardized safety guidance, simplicity, brief training, and repeated home or community practice, EASE may provide a practical foundation for future feasibility, mechanistic, and implementation studies.