Monmouth County's Ask the Doctor Sept/Oct

Ear Seeds Are The Newest trend By, Lauren Kowlacki

Ear "seeds" is a term used to describe seeds that come from the vaccaria plant, used in place of acupuncture needles in the ear. It is a form of au- riculotherapy, or ear acupressure, where a seed is used to help stimulate pressure points in the ear. The seeds, made of magnets or vaccaria flower seeds, are often covered in gold or crystal, making both a subtle fashion and health statement. Like acupuncture and reflexology, the seeds purportedly stimulate relaxation, helping with anxiety and spiritual healing. According to traditional Chi- nese medicine (TCM), different areas of our ears correspond to different organs and systems within the body. Stimulating these parts can treat ail- ments in those various organs and systems

The seeds, which are small, hard, round objects are to be applied to differ- ent pressure points in the ear with adhesive tape. The patient can then press the points where the seeds are and stimulate the acupuncture or acupres- sure points. They look like teeny-tiny gold studs but are actually seeds. Ear seeds are used to help relieve back pain, neck pain, weight loss, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, depression, stress and many other conditions. Ear seed therapy, also called Auriculotherapy, is the stimulation of specific points on the ear, which is believed to be a mi- crosystem of the entire body. Known to work with your body to help you lose weight by decreasing your appetite while increas- ing your metabolism. There are some limited scientific studies to support the health benefits, but more research is needed and the biological reasons for why ear seeds may work has not yet been discovered.

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