Image via @auricleearseeds
Everyone who has ever had an ailment and wanted to try alternative medicine, knows what acupuncture is. In case you’re not familiar, acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical method of painlessly piercing the skin with tiny needles to alleviate pain in particular areas of the body. Similarly, there is a treatment that many people are trying out for the same purposes called “ear seeding,” which is a type of acupressure also inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, which uses magnets or metal gems on the ears in the same way acupuncturists use needles on target areas on the body. Here’s what you might need to know if you’re considering trying it out…
So what is ear seeding exactly and what does it help to treat?
According to acupressure experts, ear seeding is a type of system that views the ears as gateways to the entire body referred to as “auriculotherapy.” Tiny metal balls or “vaccaria seeds” adhere to energy points on the ears to cause an effect on the body and nervous system. Where there are no needles involved in ear seeding, the process is a slightly less invasive form of acupuncture as the needles will provide a much stronger stimulation to the nervous system, the ornaments used on the ears stimulate points over the dermis layer.
Some studies show that ear seeding relieves ailments such as digestive issues, pain, stress, insomnia amongst, and even acute muscle pain.
Both traditional acupuncture and ear seeding target the same ailments and issues and energy points – but one of the main differences is that acupuncture is an all over body treatment that lasts minutes, whilst ear seeding is effective over a matter of days until the tiny balls fall off. This type of acupressure is an efficient alternative to acupuncture when certain parts of the body are unreachable due to lifestyle choices.
So how are the seeds placed on the ears?
Well, according to traditional Chinese medicine, the body and its functions are imaged on the ear and the seeds are strategically placed on the pressure points according to your ailment.
It’s important to note that the skin must be clean prior to placing the seeds, and that the seeds have been cleaned and sterilized. Moreover, due to the pressure aspect of the ear seeding, the placement and amount of pressure maintained could possible cause a slight trauma to the skin. Having had the procedure, prolonged exposure to water, swimming, wearing close fitting hats over the ears, or headphones and earmuffs are not recommended as they could lead to infections. The seed metals you use should also be ones you know you are not allergic to.
Ear seeding kits are available online, but it’s also worth mentioning that once you have had the procedure done with a licensed practitioner a few times, you can then perhaps do it yourself at home. The same does not apply for acupuncture!
