What is Ear Seeding?
Are you interested in acupuncture but scared of needles? Ear seeding might be a great alternative for you. You may have heard of ear seeding, a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine that has been growing in popularity on social media platforms such as Tiktok.
Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, ear seeding is a type of auriculotherapy aka ear acupuncture. Tiny "seeds", which can be beads made from metal, ceramic, or other materials, are placed on specific pressure points on the ear using adhesive. This is also called auricular acupressure, a non-invasive treatment. Instead of inserting needles, the treatment involves applying pressure with the beads to specific points on your ears to stimulate the acu-points without piercing the skin.
Why the Ear?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are several meridian systems, pathways of energy in the body, and stimulating the ear helps open and smooth the flow of Qi, aka energy. The ear is also used as a microsystem, where the ear has points that correspond with every system on the body. Acupressure on the ear may also help stimulate the vagus nerve, which promotes relaxation, as well as the pineal gland, which may help you sleep.
Ear seeding works like acupuncture and stimulation of these acu-points help the body release endorphins. They offer many benefits of acupuncture without the use of needles.
They may help to address symptoms like pain, fatigue, and digestive issues. Because ear seeding is minimally invasive, it is a great option for those with chronic conditions.
Other conditions that ear seeding is beneficial for include:
Insomnia
Weight Management
Stress
Allergies
Seeking Treatment
While there are home kits for ear seeding that can be found online, it is recommended to seek out a professional. People who should refrain from ear seeds may include young children, as the seeds may fall in the ear canal if they dislodge them, or people with sensitive skin that might be irritated by the ear seed tape. Otherwise ear seeding is seen as a great minimally invasive treatment option. Once applied, the seeds can be kept on for a period of 1-5 days, with 4 days being the average. You can massage them throughout the day to provide continuous stimulation to help increase the treatment's benefits.
The UEWM Clinic will begin to offer Ear Seeding treatments at our Teaching Clinic! We also offer other TCM treatments like acupuncture, tuina and herbal medicines.
Read our other blog posts to see what other ailments UEWM Clinic treats and how acupuncture can be a beneficial treatment for you.
Talk to your doctor to see if acupuncture may be a good option for you, or schedule with UEWM Clinic here.
For more information about UEWM Clinic visit our website at www.uewmclinic.com
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