"Stressed-out” and “anxiety-ridden” might describe a mother’s emotions when her child is scheduled for surgery. But according to researchers from Yale University, that uneasiness may be lessened through auricular acupuncture. This technique incorporates the use of needles or scopes on specific points along the outer ear thought to directly influence brain patterns. Of the 66 women who participated in the study, more than half received the treatment 30 minutes before their children’s surgery, while the control group received sham acupuncture. In addition to calming the mother’s nerves, this complementary therapy also helped to bring down the child’s tension levels after surgery, clearing the way for a speedy recovery.