Ear Seeds: How This Acupressure Therapy May Enhance Your Overall Wellness

Ear seeding is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) healing practice that dates back thousands of years. Also referred to as auricular acupressure, it's a noninvasive technique that stimulates pressure points on the ear.

Many social media influencers — and some emerging research — suggest that this acupressure technique may reduce chronic pain, ease stress, and help with weight loss, among other potential health benefits.

You can buy ear seed products over the counter for at-home use, but as with other complementary and alternative therapies, it’s best to visit a licensed practitioner to find out how (and whether) to use them for your specific concerns.

What Is Ear Seeding?

“Ear seeding is the process of placing tiny metallic beads attached to a small piece of adhesive material, like tape, in strategic locations on the surface of the ear,” says Sue Kim, MD, an integrative medicine practitioner and a medical acupuncturist located in Mountain View, California.

Ear seeds can be potentially effective for many chronic conditions, says Jill Blakeway, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine in private practice in New York City. Blakeway says auricular acupressure via ear seeding is traditionally believed to affect every part of the body through the minute acupressure points in the ear.

How Ear Seeding Works

TCM views the body as self-regulating, and ear seeds, “a gentle version of acupuncture,” prompt the body to heal, Blakeway says.

Exactly how ear seeds work to ease health issues like insomnia or anxiety is a more complex and under-researched question, says Grant Chu, MD, an associate clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health.

“Stimulation of these points is thought to promote the release of endorphins, which inhibit pain signals,” says Dr. Chu.

The exact process from stimulation to relief in the body is still not well understood, though, and more large-scale research is needed.

Possible Benefits of Auriculotherapy in General

Though Chu says that higher-quality studies specific to ear seeding are needed to confirm its benefits, he also says that auricular acupressure may possibly aid people with health concerns such as:

• Anxiety
• Chronic and acute pain
• Insomnia
• Smoking cessation
• Weight loss
• High cholesterol

Fewer studies have been done on ear seeding (auricular acupressure) than on auricular acupuncture, and many of them are older or small. But since ear seeding stimulates similar points to ear acupuncture, they may have some overlap in benefits.

One review of 46 studies looked at the effects of auricular acupressure via ear seeding on acute and chronic pain management.

At-Home Application vs. a Visit to a Licensed Professional

“I think it’s best to see a licensed professional first, because they can help you choose the most effective point to fit your diagnosis, and they can make sure you’re putting them in the correct places,” Blakeway says.

After you have first consulted with a licensed acupuncturist, Dr. Kim says applying them at home may be empowering for some people because it’s a technique that a person has control over and one that doesn’t necessarily require an appointment after your initial visit.

At-Home Application of Ear Seeds

One of the risks of applying ear seeds at home is that you might not put them in the right spots along your ear.

Kim suggests limiting your seed application to between three and five seeds. “The locations may get muddled beyond that, and it also may become difficult to stimulate them,” she says.

Another risk of at-home application and massage is user error. If you massage the ear seeds too roughly or too often — more than two to three times per day — complications may arise, Chu says.

“Locally, the seeds may cause discomfort or skin irritation,” he says. “Sometimes overstimulation may cause drowsiness or dizziness, so it is important that ear seeds be placed by trained providers.”

That said, if you follow the proper technique and exercise caution, at-home application or massage of ear seeds is generally unlikely to have any adverse effects.

“The risks are minimal,” Kim says. “Theoretically, they may cause an abrasion or laceration if pressed too hard and too long, but that would be unusual.”

“Because they don’t break the skin, they are a very safe treatment,” Blakeway says.

Ear Seeding With a Licensed Professional

Most experts agree that the health risks of ear seeds applied by a licensed professional are minimal and may provide more benefits than at-home application.

A professional may also help provide more effective relief, says Christina Burns, a doctor of Chinese medicine, the founder of Naturna, and an acupuncturist in New York City.

“Having someone trained in this can help identify the best [pressure] point combinations,” she says. “They could also listen to your story and help assess where to focus.”

What Does Ear Seeding Cost?

Price may also be something to consider. At-home ear seeds range from $5 to $50 per packet, whereas professional sessions can run from $25 to $100 per session, depending on location and other factors, Kim says.

Burns says price varies with the practitioner, but her practice charges $125 for ear seeding applications.

Who Might Explore Ear Seeding and Who Should Avoid Ear Seeding

Experts agree that ear seeds are safe to use for most adults.

“I [personally] use this technique for adults of all ages for a variety of complaints,” says Blakeway. Kim, too, says that anyone age 18 or older who has felt benefits from acupuncture or who wants to try a new approach to therapy could consider ear seeding.

That said, kids should refrain from using ear seeds.

“I don’t use ear seeds on small children because [the ear seeds] can go into the ear canal if they dislodge them,” says Blakeway.

Additionally, Blakeway and Chu both say that people with latex allergies should avoid ear seeds.

“If redness and discomfort appear, the ear should be evaluated for signs of an allergic reaction,” says Chu.

For a customized, safe approach to implementing ear seeds in your wellness routine, consult your healthcare professional and a licensed acupuncturist.

“It’s usually helpful to have someone else with trained eyes and ears give directions and teach you how to do it yourself,” Burns says. “Most of my patients find that a licensed professional keeps them accountable and on track [so they book return visits]. But others are incredibly disciplined and self-directed and can figure it out themselves" with some guidance from her.

How to Safely Apply Ear Seeds Yourself

If you want to try applying ear seeds at home, and if you have already consulted your primary care professional and a licensed acupuncturist for self-application guidance and to ensure you’re a good candidate, follow these general instructions provided by Blakeway.

Application and Use

1. Wash and dry your ears carefully.
2. Use the chart that comes with the seeds and the guidance you received from your licensed practitioner to identify the correct pressure points for your intended use.
3. Apply the seeds using tweezers. (Feel free to use a mirror!)
4. Gently massage each ear seed two to three times. Leave seeds on for three days.

Safe Removal

1. After three days, tilt your head forward toward the floor, so the seeds don’t fall in your ear canal. Use your fingers or tweezers to pick them out.
2. Let the ear area rest for two to three days before you apply more seeds.

What First-Time Ear Seed Users Can Expect

If you’ve never tried them before, ear seeds may cause you to feel a sense of “mild euphoria” upon application, Kim says: “Like acupuncture, the euphoria is likely triggered by activation of the limbic system in the brain.”

Kim's first seed application, when working with her patients, is often to the pressure point location called shen men, an area of the ear situated at the top of the triangular fossa (the concave upper part of the ear). Kim says this location is the easiest to access and can provide a sense of calm and stress relief.

If you choose the at-home route, under the guidance of your licensed acupuncturist, Blakeway advises you to keep a journal, noting the benefits you experience, any adverse symptoms, and how you feel.

“Keep a record of your symptoms so you can evaluate if this modality is working for you,” she says.