Ear seeds are tiny seeds applied toacupuncturepoints on the ear. This might sound like a flashy wellness trend, but the roots run deep — all the way back to a specific type oftraditional Chinese medicinecalledauriculotherapy.
Studies on ear seeds have been small and sparse, but some people believe they can help relievepain,anxiety,insomnia, and other ailments.
So, should you go all Johnny Appleseed on yourear lobes? Let’s find out.
How do ear seeds actually work?
Ear seeds act a bit like aneedle-free version ofacupuncture. With ear seeds, you apply pressure (nopuncture) to specific points with small balls or seeds (noneedles).
Forms ofauriculotherapy(aka, ear therapy) have been used forcenturies, but it became more standardized in the 1950s. Likeacupuncture, auriculotherapy is based on the notion that small points on the body correspond to the whole. And olderresearchfrom 2010 suggests that, when practiced properly, it really can relieve pain.
Here’s how it works: Traditionally, seeds from the herb Vaccaria are applied to specific points on the outer ear, then kept in place with adhesive. Some practitioners use small ceramic or metal balls instead of seeds. Regardless of the material, the points are massaged a few times.
Ear seed application 101
If you wanna give ear seeds a whirl, see a pro. A licensed acupuncture or acupressure practitioner who knows exactly which pressure points to use will apply the ear seeds based on your health needs. Placement needs to be precise, so DIYing isn’t a great option.
Here’s what to expect on your first go-round:
For best results, follow your practitioner’s advice on whether it’s OK to self-apply them in the future.
What are the benefits of ear seeds?
Acupressure with ear seeds has a lot of history and tradition behind it. However, quality scientific studies are lacking.
Here’s what we know about potential benefits.
It relieves pain
The most common (and most scientifically verified) claim for acupuncture is that it canrelieve pain.
Peep this research on auriculotherapy for pain relief:
It might lower blood pressure
About30 to 45 percentof people havehigh blood pressure. Good news for them: ear acupressure might help!
Whenscientistsreviewed 44 trials involving 5,022 participants, they found that ear acupressure used in tandem withblood pressuremeds was more effective than medication alone.
It could dial down anxiety
Does the idea of rubbing little bumps on your ears calm you down? There might be something to it.
In a 2020 research review,22 out of 24 studiesshowed that auriculotherapy improved symptoms of:
Researchers acknowledged, however, that the methodology in these studies was weak and more research is needed.
A2017 studyin which 180 participants had 10 sessions of ear therapy spread over 5 weeks found that the treatment reduced bothpain and anxiety. Researchers found that though needles were more effective than seeds, seeds cause less discomfort andinfection.
It might put you right to sleep
A2015 meta-analysisof 15 studies suggests that ear acupuncture was more effective at improvingsleepthan fakeacupuncture, medication, or a placebo. However, the quality of the evidence was low due to poor methodology, small sample size, and possible publication bias.
A more recentmeta-analysisof 9 trials with a total of 688 participants found that ear therapy might improvesleep qualityfor cancer patients.
It could offer sneeze relief
A2021 research reviewsuggests that ear seeds might improveallergysymptoms. Researchers concluded that more studies are needed to confirm safety and efficacy.
Any other benefits?
Maybe! Ear acupressure has been studied for a wide range of health issues. Here’s the scoop:
What about the side effects and risks of ear seeds?
As far as medical interventions go, ear seeds are pretty low risk. But there are potential side effects, including:
FAQ: Can ear seeds fall in your ear?
Actually, yes. If a foreign object — like a small seed — falls into your ear canal, you might experience injury,hearing loss, or infection.
A 2015case reportdescribes how an ear seed that had fallen into a woman’s ear passed through a hole in her eardrum. The metallic bead was discovered during a routine MRI. Doctors had to surgically remove the bead.
Acupressure with ear seeds is based on a long history of traditional Chinese medicine. More high quality scientific research is needed to confirm claims that it’s an effective treatment for:
Despite scarce research, ear seeds are a low risk, nonmedicinal therapy. You might find them effective when applied by a professional practitioner.
