1109 North Walnut Avenue, New Braunfels, Texas 78130, United States
Auriculotherapy with Ear Seeds
Boost your Immune System and Relieve Stress
What is an ear seed treatment?
Ear seeds are small black seeds from the vaccaria plant or small metal beads or pellets that are secured on the ear with a piece of adhesive tape over specific acupressure points. Mild pressure is then placed with finger tips of the person.
What is the purpose of ear seeds?
Ear seeds are placed on specific points in your ear to improve the body's flow of Qi (vital energy) to restore balance between yin and yang within the internal organs.
What are the health benefits of ear seeds?
Ear seeds can help with allergies, anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, constipation, depression, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia, IBS, lower back pain, migraines, aid in smoking cessation, promote sounder sleep, relieve stress, help with motion sickness, and support weight loss....and many other symptoms.
What Are Ear Seeds?
Ear seeds are very small stick-on seeds or beads that are used to stimulate the external ear, also called the auricle. Using ear seeds to apply pressure to the outer ear is called auriculotherapy.
Just like your feet, the ear has hundreds of points that correspond with specific organs or body systems. Triggering these points is meant to allow for the proper flow of energy.
This idea of specific parts of the ear being linked to internal organs was first discovered in ancient China and noted in the medical classic “Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine.” Today, auricular acupressure is used to treat many health conditions.
The ear seeds, or pellets, serve as stimuli to the ears, but they do not pierce the skin. Trained professionals commonly used plant seeds (usually from the vaccaria plant) or magnetic pearls to trigger a very specific area.
What Are They Used For?
There are hundreds of acupoints in the ear that, when stimulated, improve the flow of qi in the body.
Unlike acupuncture which uses needles, which are placed and then removed, seeds can be worn continuously for days.
Ear seeds are used for a range of issues, from weight loss to addiction. Although research investigating the efficacy of ear seeds is limited, reports suggest that they may help relieve issues such as:
- acute pain
- headaches
- sleep issues
- stress
- anxiety and panic attacks
- depression
- weight issues
- stress eating
- addiction
- low libido
- fatigue
How They Work
According to research published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the mechanisms of ear acupressure have a close relationship with the autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine system.
Its efficacy is based on the stimulation of neural reflexes, which makes it possible to relieve pain, anxiety and sleep issues by triggering ear acupoints.
Seed or pellet pressing is meant to open the energy pathways and stimulate nerves that relay messages to the central nervous system. The brain receives these stimulations, or messages, and activates the specific body part that’s been triggered.
Do They Work? Proven Benefits
Some proven benefits include its ability to:
- Relieve Anxiety - A randomized clinical trial conducted in Brazil evaluated the effectiveness of auricular therapy in reducing pain and anxiety of hospital nursing staff members.The participating nurses received 10 sessions of auricular therapy using ear seeds.Researchers found that there was a statistical difference for anxiety after each session. There was also a 74 percent reduction of pain after using ear seed therapy.
- Improve Sleep - A systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that auricular acupuncture has a positive effect when used for insomnia. Researchers concluded that ear acupuncture may serve as a cost-effective and safe therapy, especially as compared to the consumption of Narcotics and hypnotics.
- Relieve Pain - A 2012 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine examined the benefits of using ear seeds for back pain in a seven-day treatment period. When auricular point acupressure was used to reduce chronic low back pain, participants reported a 76 percent reduction in their worst pain and a 80 percent reduction in average pain; 62 percent of participants also reported using less pain medication.
- Ease Addiction - A 3- to 5-point ear acupressure protocol is the most widely implemented acupressure-assisted protocol for substance abuse and broad behavioral health issues, according to research published in Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation. Ear acupuncture and acupressure are commonly used for smoking cessation, although results vary according to dedication of the test subject. However, there’s evidence that ear acupuncture and acupressure have been beneficial for patients suffering from drug dependence.
- Boost Weight Loss - A study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that ear acupressure with Japanese magnetic pearls or vaccaria seeds decreased body mass index in an eight-week, randomized controlled trial. The vaccaria seed method showed the greatest reduction in BMI.
Are They Safe? Risks and Side Effects
Ear seeds are available as stick-ons, so they’re easy to use and don’t require a licensed acupuncturist. That said, for ear acupuncture to be effective, it is ESSENTIAL to work with a trained professional who knows how to find the appropriate acupoints on the outer ear.
Ear seeds are generally considered safe, as they are noninvasive and simply rest on the outer ear. There are a few types of ear seeds, including actual seeds from the vaccaria plant, crystal ear seeds, metal beads and ceramic beads.
If you notice signs of irritation after applying the seeds or pellets, then remove them right away.
Applying pressure to the seeds may cause minor irritation, so don’t do it too often. It’s also helpful to give your ears a rest after removing the seeds before you reapply, at least 8-16 hours.
Conclusion
Ear seeds are tiny seeds, pellets, beads or crystals that are placed on ear pressure points to stimulate the flow of energy to other areas of the body.
Auriculotherapy is used for a range of health issues, including anxiety, pain, weight loss and addiction. There are many reports of its benefits.
You can apply ear seeds yourself or have them applied by a trained professional. It is suggested that someone with the appropriate knowledge base apply them to be more effective and placed properly. They typically stay on the ears for about 7 to 10 days at a time.
