Ear Seeds

In traditional Chinese medicine, the ear is considered a microsystem: A representation of the whole body. The ear looks like an upside-down baby with the lobe being the head, the interior ridge being the spine, and the internal organs along with the recessed areas.

What are ear seeds — and what are they made of?

In traditional Chinese medicine, they are seeds of the Vaccaria plant, a type of seed that is roughly the size of poppy seeds. The Vaccaria Seed is used for its blood moving properties and also reduces swelling, relieves pain and promotes healing, today, ear seeds aren’t just seeds anymore. Some acupuncturists and stores sell some made of steel, silver, gold, crystal or magnets. The seeds are applied to different acupuncture spots of your ear using an adhesive or waterproof tape. Once applied, you can wear the seeds all day — or up to three to five days tops, if the adhesive holds.

Is ear seeding effective?

According to those who practice traditional Chinese medicine, there are centuries of anecdotal evidence that it is effective for treating — or at least easing — the symptoms of many physical and psychological ailments. That’s why in 1957, Paul Nogier, a French physician, adopted the practice and published the ear map to help those in the west adopt the practice.

Unfortunately, though, there aren’t many large medical studies that have been published to back up the discussion of these benefits with direct correlation to ear seeds.

A small 2013 study, for example, found that ear seeding could help reduce low back pain and improve mobility, while a 2015 study found the practice might increase pain tolerance.

Are ear seeds safe?

The short answer? Yes! Ear seeds are generally considered safe to use as they are topically applied with little to no invasive materials used. There may be some application risks, however, that you should be aware of.

READ FULL STORY The Truth Behind the "Ear Seeds" You've Been Seeing All Over Social Media (yahoo.com)

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