Ear seeds are the latest TikTok obsession – the hashtag has notched up over 120 million views and users credit them with curing their insomnia, but do they work?
TikTok throws up some questionable trends, from becoming #ThatGirl and ’healthy’ Coke to hot girl walks – and, of course, we don’t need to give all of them our full attention. But the latest wellness wonder to pop up seems more interesting, not least because it’s supposed to come with a host of life-changing benefits, including migraine and insomnia relief. We’re talking, of course, about ear seeding, a practice that hails from traditional Chinese medicine.
The principle is simple: by placing stickers on various parts of the ear, you’re supposed to be able to promote better wellbeing in the body (whether that’s better gut health, a deeper sense of calm or better sleep). Sounds great, right? Well, we’ve been chatting with a couple of health experts to explain the origins of the now-viral wellbeing accessory, how ear seeds should be used and whether the TikTok phenomenon is too good to be true.
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What are ear seeds and where do they come from?
Ear seeds, as we know them now, usually come in the form of a series of tiny gold or silver beads that are applied to acupressure points on the ear. They look a bit like delicate ear piercings (which is probably one of the reasons TikTok loves them). For needle-phobes they’re less invasive than acupuncture, though they’re based on the same traditional Chinese medicine system.
“In Chinese medicine, we believe our health depends on the flow of energy (qi),” explains Renata Nunes, a London-based acupuncturist and physiotherapist. “The flow travels along the meridian channels that flow throughout our bodies, including our ears.”
“Ear seeds are a type of auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture),” adds Ada Ooi, TCM practitioner, acupuncturist and founder of 001 Skincare. Usually, auriculotherapy uses needles to stimulate acupressure points on the ear – treating the organ as a microsystem which reflects the entire body.
“Stimulating these points opens up energy, and as some points are identified as reflexive to problematic organ systems, it can be used to treat the corresponding conditions.”
Ooi says that there are over 200 acupuncture points in the ear, “and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised 39 points for relieving pain, calming the mind and aiding certain symptoms.
”Research has shown that when certain points on the ears are stimulated, similar brain waves appear as to when one is relaxed,” she continues.
Traditionally, ear seeds came from the vaccaria herb, which is associated with the liver and stomach meridians in Chinese medicine, but in modern-day wellness they’re often made from ceramic or metals such as silver or gold, and held in place by adhesive stickers or tape.
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What are the supposed benefits of using ear seeds?
Increased calm
Ear seeding can be used to treat stress by giving you a sense of calm, as well as digestive issues and nausea, Nunes says. “When treating stress, the seeds must be placed on specific points. One point widely used for stress control is the shen men, which is located in the triangular fossa and can have a tranquilising effect.” The triangular fossa is that little alcove located towards the inner top of your ear, above the tragus.
Insomnia, pain and migraine
Auriculotherapy can also be used to work through the nervous system and meridian channels to treat insomnia, migraines, substance abuse, chronic back pain and gynaecological issues, Ooi adds. But primarily, ear seeds are applied by acupuncturists, and increasingly holistic facialists, at the end of a session to prolong the effects of the acupuncture treatment.
Can you apply ear seeds yourself?
You can easily buy ear seeds to apply at home and most come with an auricular map to demonstrate where to place them. But are you likely to reap the full benefits doing it yourself?
“The issue with buying ear seeds and applying them at home is that, unlike an acupuncture session, you won’t have the knowledge of acupressure points and their relation to the bodily system, so it’s unlikely that you would be able to pinpoint your condition as adjacent to the points you should be stimulating,” says Ooi.
She adds that acupuncture “is a more direct and intense stimulation for reflexive benefits, but ear seeds are great supportive tools for day-to-day relief”.
To get the most out of ear seeding, ideally you’d see a trained practitioner first to discuss what you’re trying to treat so that they can show you the best positions to apply the seeds and whether there are any other steps worth taking that might help the situation, such as other forms of stress-relief.
After chatting with a professional, you’d then be better placed to practise at home. Acupuncture sessions can be expensive, but ear acupuncture is a much more affordable way of receiving treatment and there are a number of low-cost clinics out there that are on a mission to make acupuncture more accessible.
In London, for example, you’ve got the Bright Room Community Acupuncture – a low-cost, affordable acupuncture clinic in Hackney. Caroline Simon offers community prices for ear acupuncture in Sydenham and The Get Well Clinic in Camberwell offers it on a drop-in basis for £5 a pop. These treatments would involve needles, but you could equally ask your practitioner for advice on where to apply seeds.
Which kind of ear seeds are best?
With multiple options to choose from, including silver and gold-plated ear seeds, which are best? It depends on the purpose, Nunes says, as different metals offer different benefits.
“Gold seeds have a warming nature, so they can ‘tonify’ the acupressure point. For example, if a patient presents a lung deficiency, after an acupuncture treatment, a practitioner can use the gold seed to stimulate the lung (tonifying),” she explains. “In the case of silver, which presents a cold nature, the practitioner can useit to disperse energy. If I have a patient with stomach ache due to heat in the stomach, a silver seed can be used to disperse this heat.”
The main issue is getting the seeds in the right position and opt for quality where possible, says Ooi – not getting bogged down in the material. “I have encountered ear seeds where the adhesive has caused irritation to the skin after wearing them for a couple of hours or days.”
How to apply ear seeds at home
Remember that if you are applying ear seeds yourself, as with any acupuncture treatment, it’s recommended that you avoid stimulants such as alcohol before and after application.
“The ear should be sterilised and the application should be done with tweezers,” advises Nunes. “Seeds typically have a slower effect than needles (that can, for some people, give almost immediate relief) but the effect will depend on each person because each everyone reacts in a specific way to the stimulus.”
While there are no rules, generally speaking, you can expect a little sensitivity on the first day the seeds are placed. This should reduce the following day and the calming effects gradually increase, with seeds being left in for up to five days at a time. You’re supposed to gently massage them three times a day to stimulate them. “Even if they’re still in place, it’s not recommended to leave them on for more than five days,” Nunes says.
Leaving them on for too long or massaging them too frequently can irritate the skin, warns Ooi. “It’s also important to let the ears rest in between massaging the points or applying new seeds to avoid irritation.” Equally, ear seeding should be avoided by anyone with skin allergies and pregnant women (without the prescription of a qualified professional).
You can even massage the acupressure points with your hands for a free alternative. The main benefit of ear seeds is that they are much smaller so it’s easier to be accurate with the points, but Ooi recommends regularly massaging your ears with your hands as a quick and completely free wellbeing practice for the mind.
Are ear seeds worth the money?
So are they worth it? Ear seeds probably aren’t going to change your life, and it’s unlikely that they’ll cure your insomnia overnight. Primarily used to prolong the benefits of standard acupuncture treatment, if applied correctly, there’s a chance you might notice a benefit from using them – but as with most things wellness, everything is subjective.
If you are struggling with anxiety, insomnia, pain or low mood, your first option should be to consult your GP, who may well recommend you see an acupuncturist. They’re more likely to offer practical steps for whatever issue you’re living with – alongside any alternative options that exist.
Ear seeds usually sell for around £30, which may be cheaper than some therapies, but is also more expensive than many of the low-cost acu clinics out there. With that in mind, some might argue that ear seeding sounds like a waste of money in comparison to having an IRL appointment – especially given how much more evidence there is for the powers of needle-based acupuncture (the NHS and NICE even recommend it for relieving migraines and chronic pain). But as ever, it’s down to the individual. Just don’t go expecting too much if you do decide to seed.
Images: Getty
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