I talk a lot about migraines because my family is plagued with them. Each of us has a different trigger and so we have tried many different things. One way is acupuncture without needles on your ears… called Auriculotherapy. Using earseeds provides acupressure to specific points on the ear to relieve different types of pain.
“Ear seeding is the process of placing tiny metallic beads (actual seeds, crystals, ceramic beads, or magnetic beads) attached to a small piece of adhesive material, like tape, in strategic locations on the surface of the ear,” says Sue Kim, MD, a medical acupuncturist at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California.
Based in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ear seeds are a form of Auriculotherapy, which uses acupressure points in the ear to stimulate other parts of the body. According to an article published in Medical Acupuncture in June 2019, the earliest references to ear seeding were discovered in Chinese texts dating back to about 221 B.C.
“Auriculotherapy is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat and even prevent conditions like anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, substance abuse and gynecological and digestive disorders,” Dr. Nguyen says. “The ear seed is like an acupuncture needle that you use to stimulate a channel to help the patient’s condition without needing to puncture the skin,” says Acupuncturist Thuy Kim Nguyen, DAOM, LAc.
The most commonly used ear seeds are made from Vaccaria seeds which promote the release of natural endorphins, “feel-good” chemicals in your body. They are attached to an adhesive sticker. Once applied they should be rubbed 3 – 4 times a day. Each earseed should only remain on the ear for 4 – 5 days before removing and allowing the ear to rest for at least 2 days before reapplying new earseeds.
Note: If you have allergies to latex, bandages or tape, make sure to consult with your acupuncturist to use ear seeds with a backing that’s safe for you.
“There are more than 120 acupressure points in the ear,” Dr. Nguyen says. “The ears have a very close relationship with the nervous system, and some research shows that acupuncture or acupressure on the ear can stimulate the meridians.” (According to traditional Chinese medicine, 12 primary meridians carry energy throughout the body.)
Ear seeds, then, can be used to address a variety of health concerns, including:
- Acne.
- Acute pain.
- Anxiety.
- Chronic pain.
- Depression.
- Focus & Memory
- Infertility.
- Insomnia.
- Libido.
- Migraines.
- Postpartum
- Post-Trauma.
- Stop Smoking.
- Stress.
- Substance abuse.
- Weight issues.
Ears seeds are generally safe to use, but there are some risks. Adverse reactions may include:
Skin tenderness. If you rub your ear seeds too hard, you may cause pain in the spots where they’re stuck.
Skin irritation. If you have sensitive skin or leave them on your ears too long, you may experience redness, irritation or swelling.
Allergic reaction. If you’re allergic to any of the ingredients in ear seeds or materials used, inform your acupuncturist, and ask them to use a version that doesn’t include those allergens.
Dizziness or nausea. Accidentally stimulating the wrong point on your body may make you feel faint, woozy or generally unwell.
Losing the seed in your ear canal. Though ear seeds are stuck to an adhesive, they’re not firmly affixed to it, which means the seed itself can fall off — and into your ear, which may require medical attention to remove. This is why Dr. Nguyen recommends having someone else apply them to your ears.
Accidental labor. “There’s a certain point on the ear that can induce labor,” Dr. Nguyen warns, so save the ear seeds until after you’ve safely given birth.
So, now that you know all about them… how do they work? Certain parts of your body have direct relations to other areas. Reiki, Acupuncture, and Acupressure all use these meridians to help relieve energy blocks related to certain organs or specific issues like shoulder pain, menstrual pain, among others.
I have tried them once for migraine pain, and I didn’t have a migraine the entire time I had them on. That doesn’t mean they work, just that I didn’t have a migraine to test them with. I plan on testing them with my daughter this next week or two, and I’ll update this post with how well they worked for her.
Would you consider using earseeds for your health challenges? Let me know.
Blessings – E