Auricular Ear Seed Pods
Ear seeds are small seeds used to stimulate pressure points in your ear. They’re a type of auriculotherapy, which refers to acupressure or acupuncture focused on the ear. They’re based on the same general principles as acupuncture. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), your health depends on the flow of qi (energy) in your body. According to TCM, this energy travels along invisible pathways, known as meridians. Meridians are found throughout your body, including your ears.
Ear seeds are placed on certain points, usually along meridian lines, to help clear up any qi blockages. In TCM, resolving these blockages may help with a variety of health conditions.
Ear seeds help with a range of health issues, including:
- chronic pain, especially lower back pain
- insomnia and other sleep issues
- depression
- anxiety
- stress
- infertility
- migraine and other head pain
- addiction
- weight loss
While it’s possible to place ear seeds yourself, it’s usually best to see a trained acupuncturist from East Boca Acupuncture for your first time. They can go over the symptoms you’d like to address and help you find the corresponding points on your ear. They can also show you how to properly place the seeds yourself at home.
At Home Ear Seed Pod Therapy
After you’ve consulted with an East Boca Acupuncture Specialist, and you want to try ear seed pods yourself, follow these steps:
- Clean and dry the outside of your ear. Ear seeds should always go on the outside of your ear, never in your ear canal.
- Identify the correct point. Some ear seed kits come with charts showing the location of specific points. An acupuncturist can also help you locate the best points for your needs.
- Use tweezers to apply the ear seed to the point on your ear. Ear seeds typically come pre-attached to adhesive tape; try not to touch the sticky side of the tape. Press gently on the tape to make sure it sticks.
- Massage ear seeds gently. Do this two to three times each day or when you have symptoms. Apply pressure by rubbing the seeds with a circular motion for one to three minutes.
- Change them regularly. Ear seeds may fall off on their own after about three to five days. It’s not recommended to leave them on for more than five days, even if they’re still in place.
- Remove them. You can use tweezers or your nails. To make sure seeds don’t fall into your ear canal, tilt your head so your ear faces the ground before taking them off. If a seed does fall into your ear and doesn’t come out, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
It’s a good idea to let your skin rest between ear seed placements. Try to wait a day (at least eight hours) before using new ear seeds.
While using ear seeds, check your ears each day for signs of irritation, such as:
- redness
- swelling
- soreness
- tenderness
- Remove the seeds right away if you notice any of these symptoms.
If you think auricular ear seed pod therapy is right for you, call East Boca Acupuncture today! We’d love to help you on your journey to holistic healing!