Ear seeds: Purpose, efficacy, and safety – Medical News Today

Ear seeds provide stimulation to the pressure points in the ears. They use a similar principle as acupuncture to help regulate the flow of qi, or energy, in the body.

Traditional Chinese medicine states that a person’s health relies on the flow of qi, or energy, throughout the body. The energy travels along pathways or meridians. Practices such as acupuncture and acupressure attempt to correct any issues with the flow of energy in the body.

Proponents of ear seeds suggest that this method replicates the use of acupuncture in the ears by stimulating the same pressure points.

Ear seeds use actual or synthetic seeds to stimulate pressure points in the ear. Proponents of auriculotherapy, a form of acupuncture or acupressure focused on the ears, believe that a person can use seeds to stimulate the pressure points and relieve various symptoms throughout the body.

Traditionally, acupuncturists use vaccaria seeds, which come from a type of flowering herb. However, ear seeds may instead be synthetic, commonly metal or ceramic.

Acupuncturists will place the seeds around the outer ear and secure them using medical tape. People can then manipulate the seeds to provide pressure.

An acupuncturist may recommend a person use ear seeds as a form of acupressure on the ear.

The belief behind this practice is that the outer ear resembles the shape of a fetus and that placing seeds at specific points in the ear helps regulate qi. Proponents of this practice believe that placing seeds around the ear can help with a variety of conditions, such as chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and migraine.

However, it is important to note that, while some people report benefits from using ear seeds, few studies investigate the effectiveness of this practice.

Ear seeds stimulate the pressure points on the ears, which may in turn help relieve symptoms of some conditions such as chronic pain.

Acupuncturists attach the seeds to the ears with medical tape. People can then rub the seeds throughout the duration of this method.

People may keep the seeds in their ears for up to 1 week, although some may change them daily.

Advocates of ear seeds state that there are several different pressure points in the ears, and each one connects to a different energy pathway.

A person should contact an acupuncturist who can demonstrate where the seeds may have the most benefit. Some acupuncturists may suggest that a person attaches the seeds themselves once they know where to place …….

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ear-seeds-acupuncture