Crystal Ear Seeds with Placement Chart for Migraines, Self Care, Holistic, Natural, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Earseeds

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I’d say any more than three per ear, is too many at once. As with acupuncture, treatment should be lean and focused.' Here’s what you should know about using ear seeds, according to health experts and emerging scientific research. What Is Ear Seeding? The best way to make sure you’re using ear seeds safely is to talk to an acupuncturist before using them on your own.

At the Cleveland Clinic, ear seeds are utilized to support acupuncture, but in some clinics, ear seeding is performed alone. Needles are a potent stimulant for body points. Scott explains that an ear seed or any form of bead placed on the body would operate as a low-level, continual stimulus for the system. For instance, if a child visits her for acupuncture to treat allergies or asthma, they may leave the clinic with a handful of beads to increase lung function and resiliency during a particularly difficult allergy season. *Image source: Unsplash/Pixelbay/Pexels

After an acupuncturist has shown you where — exactly — to apply your ear seeds for the most benefits, you can try at-home application. Blakeway notes ear seeds are low risk because they're noninvasive. “Because they don’t break the skin, they are a very safe treatment,” Blakeway says. Additionally, Blakeway and Chu warn 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. Although ear seeds are sold for use at home, Dr. Nguyen recommends first consulting with a licensed acupuncturist to make sure you’re putting them in the right place for your specific needs. According to past research, when the body experiences tactile stimulation via acupuncture — believed to potentially share similarities to auricular acupressure stimulation — the limbic system, which controls our emotional experience, is directly affected. Additionally, a previous meta-analysis shows that acupuncture releases endorphins, which can result in a sort of “high.”

A 2018 study looking at the use of auriculotherapy on anxiety during labor had more promising results. In their triple-blind study, the researchers noted and recommended the use of ear acupressure to reduce anxiety during labor.During the study, 40 patients with musculoskeletal pain were carefully examined to determine which parts of their body were most troubled. Each patient was then draped with a sheet that concealed any visible physical problems. Chronic headaches and migraines are one of the most common conditions in the world. Despite being so widespread and well-studied, 15% of Americans still suffer from them.

Fredlund, E., et al. (n.d.). Public health acupuncture of nm: Using ear seeds for stress reduction. Chu warns that while ear seeds are generally safe, user error does occur. If they are massaged too roughly or too often — more than two to three times per day — complications may arise. “Locally, the seeds may cause discomfort or skin irritation,” Chu says. “Sometimes overstimulation may cause drowsiness or dizziness, so it is important that ear seeds be placed by trained providers.” Risk Factors of Ear Seeding With a Licensed Professional First, it’s important to note that applying ear seeds at home brings a risk of user error. Blakeway says most at-home applications come with small maps that identify acupoints in your ear for easy application, but this may not be the best way to apply them. “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,” she says. Lan, Y., et al. (2015). Auricular acupuncture with seed or pellet attachments for primary insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. They don't have any known serious side effects. But you might have minor symptoms after you use ear seeds. They include:Clean and dry the outside of your ear. Ear seeds should always go on the outside of your ear, never in your ear canal. Once they're in place, you massage them two to three times a day. To do this, apply gentle pressure to the seeds and move them in small circles. When you’re living with any kind of chronic illness, it’s important that you’re as involved in your own healing as possible. These results thus support the hypothesis that there is a [somatotopic] organization of the body represented upon the human auricle.”