{"id":1144,"date":"2019-08-04T03:22:44","date_gmt":"2019-08-04T03:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alternativemedicine.today\/?p=1144"},"modified":"2019-08-13T03:26:16","modified_gmt":"2019-08-13T03:26:16","slug":"is-at-home-ear-seed-acupuncture-actually-legit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alternativemedicine.today\/?p=1144","title":{"rendered":"Is At-home Ear Seed Acupuncture Actually Legit?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Acupuncture is fairly mainstream, with people turning to it for pain, anxiety, and even fertility. While the list of benefits is long, it can be time-consuming and expensive, which is why when I first heard about ear seed acupuncture, which you can do on your own at home, it piqued my interest.<\/p>\n

What exactly are ear seeds?<\/p>\n

Depending on the type you buy, ear seeds are made of either metal or Vaccaria seeds, sourced from the Vaccaria plant and popular in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The metal or seeds are put on adhesive tape, which you can then place on your ears, applying the pressure by rubbing them in a circular motion for a few minutes; you can do this all at home and don\u2019t need an acupuncturist to do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cEar seed acupuncture seeds are different from traditional acupuncture needles called acu-needles. These seeds are used as a complementary approach and are rooted in the same belief system as traditional acupuncture,\u201d acupuncturist Ani Baran, LAc, of New Jersey Acupuncture Center explains. \u201cEssentially, they are small seeds with an adhesive backing that are applied along the ear and work with the pressure points found in your ears. This method of treatment is also called auriculotherapy which translates to ear therapy\u2014acupressure or acupuncture that focuses on ears.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acupuncturist Kate Reil, LAc, MS, who works at the Yinova Center (which has a third location opening this month) adds that for the needle averse, they can be a great way to reap the benefits of acupuncture. \u201cEar seeds work by placing light pressure on acupuncture points throughout the ear because they\u2019re not puncturing the skin\u2014like an acupuncture treatment using needles,\u201d she says, adding that they\u2019re perfectly safe to do at home on your own. \u201cYou have more freedom than you might think when you have ear seeds on. You can shower with them, exercise, sleep with them on, talk on your phone, and generally live your life however you normally do!\u201d She adds that the ear seeds will fall out naturally over a three to five day period, but you can also remove them whenever you want, using tweezers.<\/p>\n

What ear seeds work for?<\/p>\n

Now that I knew they were safe, I was curious as to what exactly they were used for. \u201cFor everything!\u201d Reil says enthusiastically. She explains to me that the ears are essentially a hotbed of acupressure points, which is why no matter what your specific reasons are for seeing an acupuncturist, chances are you\u2019ll end up with some needles in your ears. \u201cEar acupuncture can be an addition to whole-body acupuncture or as a treatment on its own,\u201d Reil tells me.<\/p>\n

Read the complete article at Well and Good<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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