Lately, TikTokers have been raving about the supposed health benefits of ear seeding, a healing practice that dates back thousands of years. Auricular acupressure is a pressure point massage technique that doesn’t involve piercing the skin, and instead targets pressure points on the ear. The technique is similar to auricular acupuncture, with a similar map of points, but instead of needles, it uses ____.

Ear seeding is the process of placing tiny metallic beads, actual seeds, ceramic beads, or magnetic beads attached to a small piece of adhesive material, like tape, in strategic locations on the surface of the ear,” says Sue Kim, MD, a medical acupuncturist at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California.

Since January 2021, the hashtag #earseeding has been viewed 200,000 times on TikTok, while the channel “ear seeds” has been viewed 81.4 million times. There is a lot of speculation on TikTok about a certain acupressure technique from traditional Chinese medicine possibly having many benefits such as reducing chronic pain, stress relief, and weight loss.

The new trend among TikTokers is to buy ear seed products online or over the counter that are similar to those used in acupuncture clinics. You should only visit a licensed acupuncture practitioner to find out whether this therapy can be used to address your specific concerns.

The following is a summary of what experts say about ear seeds and their potential benefits backed by recent scientific research.

What Is Ear Seeding?

Ear seeding is a traditional therapy rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and falls under the modality of auriculotherapy, a form of complementary and alternative medicine, which is based on the belief that the entire body and its systems (reproductive, nervous, digestive, respiratory, et cetera) can be reflected in the map of the ear (called a microsystem), which has various pressure points that correspond to various organs and systems.

Ear seeding is a practice that dates back to 221 B.C., when the earliest references to it were discovered in Chinese texts.

Small stickers are placed on specific pressure points on the ear in order to provide relief from pain or other ailments. Vaccaria seeds or metal/ceramic beads are placed in the outer ear to help with ailments. Unlike acupuncture, ear seeding doesn’t employ needles. Ear seeds are small pellets made from a variety of materials that are pressed into the skin on specific points on the ear. The ear seeds on these auricular acupoints are massaged, which may help address physiological and psychological symptoms like inflammation, pain, stress, and fatigue, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The seeds in your ear don’t actually pierce the skin, but instead work to stimulate specific pressure points. This makes them a [potentially] effective treatment for many chronic conditions,” says Jill Blakeway, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine in private practice in New York City. Auricular acupressure is a traditional belief that ear seeding can affect different parts of the body.

How Ear Seeding Works

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body is seen as self-regulating. Ear seeds, which are considered to be a gentle form of acupuncture, help to prompt the body to heal.

How ear seeds help with conditions such as insomnia or anxiety is not well understood or researched, says Grant Chu, MD, an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the Center for East-West Medicine at University of California in Los Angeles.

According to Dr. Chu, stimulating certain points is believed to cause the release of endorphins. These endorphins block pain signals from being sent to the brain. He cites that there is not a clear understanding of the process of stimulus to relief within the body. Auriculotherapy, which involves stimulating different points on the ear, may help reduce pain by affecting the neural pathways that carry pain signals.

Possible Benefits of Auriculotherapy in General

Chu believes that more research needs to be done in order to confirm the benefits of ear seeding, but he believes that it may help with issues such as anxiety, chronic and acute pain, insomnia, smoking cessation, difficulty losing weight, and perhaps high cholesterol. There is less research on ear seeding than on auricular acupuncture, but since both of them target similar pressure points, it is likely that they produce similar effects. More research is needed.

Meta-analyses of ear seeds references potential health benefits which may result in a deeper look at the practice.

A review published in September 2020 in Pain Management Nursing examined 46 past studies to see if there is a correlation between auricular acupressure and acute and chronic pain management. The study concluded that ear seeding is an effective treatment for most acute pain conditions, including low back pain and abdominal discomfort, when used in combination with other interventions. The study found that people with acute pain need less time doing ear-seeding therapy to feel relief than people with chronic pain.

An additional review that was published in June of 2019 looked at seven different studies concerning obese or overweight individuals. The study found that auricular acupressure, either alone or in combination with diet and exercise, can help people lose weight and reduce their waist size and body fat percentage. Although the study found some positive results, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

At-Home Application vs. a Visit to a Licensed Professional

Before you decide whether to have at-home or professional application of a treatment, there are some things to think about. Both at-home and professional application of a treatment may be effective, but there are pros and cons to each option.

First, it’s important to note that there is a risk of user error when applying ear seeds at home. Blakeway believes that the most popular method of at-home ear acupuncture, which uses small maps to identify acupoints, is not the best way to go about it. It is advisable to see a licensed professional first, as they can help you choose the most effective point to fit your diagnosis and make sure you are putting them in the correct places.

Dr. Kim says that, after you have first consulted with a licensed acupuncturist, some people may find it empowering to apply them at home. She says that the patient has control over the technique and that it does not require an appointment once the patient has met with a professional provider.

Other Acupressure Points

You may be surprised to find out there are hundreds of acupoints throughout the human body. More than 400 have been described. Acupressure points are commonly found in indentations and depressions of the body. These points tend to favor acupressure over acupuncture. Acupuncture is a more precise technique than acupressure and related techniques like auriculotherapy.

PC-6 (Pericardium Meridian)

Acupoint HT7 is one of the most famous and respected acupoints. The pericardium is the sac that protects our heart. This particular acupoint is located on the inner forearm. The PC-6 point is located three finger-widths up the forearm from where the hand meets the wrist, in between the two prominent tendons. It helps with nausea, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

LV-3 or LR-3 (Liver Meridian)

This acupoint is commonly used and associated with the liver. It is located on the top of the foot. To find your pulse, feel for the pulse between your big toe and the toe next to it. You can find the LV-3 acupoint by sliding your finger or another object up half an inch from the indentation. It is believed that the LV-3 point on both feet is the best stress-relieving acupoint, and benefits can be achieved by manipulating it simultaneously.

LI-4 (Large Intestine Meridian)

Some practitioners believe that LI-4 is one of the three most important acupoints in the body. This is something we are familiar with and is not difficult to find. To do this exercise, put your hand flat on a surface with your palm down. Then, press your thumb up towards the rest of your hand. A small bump will form on the side of your hand near the crevice between your thumb and hand. This is the LI-4 acupoint. To use it, simply relax your hand and apply pressure with your other thumb. It is claimed that this pressure point can help relieve headaches, improve bowel function, and relax muscles.

SP-6 (Spleen Meridian)

This acupoint is important because it is where the three energy channels in the leg converge. It is located on the inner leg. Start at the center of your anklebone when you are trying to find it. From there, move up the leg four finger-widths. Move your finger or instrument towards the back of your leg and the point will be just below the Tibia bone.

LI-11 (Large Intestine Meridian)

This acupoint, called “Pool at The Crook,” is located at the crook of the elbow, making it easy to find. This technique is suggested by professionals in order to keep your arm in the same position as if it were in a sling. Put your palm facing up, and then use your other hand to apply pressure to the outside of your elbow. Acupoints are said to not only relieve arm, elbow and shoulder pain, but also promote the healthy operation of the digestive tract.

LU-1 (Lung Meridian)

This acupoint is effective in treating lung-related issues. It is located just below the collarbones, approximately three finger-widths away from the meeting place of the arm and the shoulder, on either side of the body. Pulmosol is a medication used to treat symptoms related to lungs and breathing, such as coughing and wheezing, as well as problems with digestion and pain in nearby areas like the chest, shoulder, and back.

GB-20 (Gall Bladder Meridian)

This particular pressure point is one that many people will recognize from massages that are meant to target headaches or sinus pain. To find the muscle, place your thumbs on the bony base of your skull behind your ears and around your hairline. Slide them inwards. Just below this point is where the thyroid gland is located. You can find the thyroid gland by feeling for the point where two muscles join at the base of the skull, midway between the ear and the spine. This point can relieve pain from migraines, sinus/colds, stiffness in the neck, and other general pains.

ST-40 (Stomach Meridian)

Sinus congestion is caused by fluid buildups, which can result in anything from great discomfort to almost unbearable pain. For many people, these conditions are chronic and resistant to treatment. Some people have found this acupoint to be very helpful. To find the tibialis anterior, experts suggest grabbing your leg in the middle of the shin and placing your thumb at the back. Put pressure on the tibia with your thumb and move it outward, away from the bone. Pressing the button will connect you to this acupoint.

HT-7 (The Heart Channel)

This point is believed to have a calming and nourishing effect on the spirit. HT-7 is said to relieve anxiety and have calming properties that relieve insomnia. It is located directly on the wrist. Place your arm palm side up and locate the wrist creases where the arm meets the hand. Find the point on your wrist where the crease meets your pinky finger, and that will be the HT-7 acupressure point.

KD-1 (Kidney Meridian)

The kidney meridian is important for energy levels, general health, and creating balance. It is found at the bottom of your foot. The pressure point is located about a third of the way down your foot, in line with the second toe. It is rumored to help with anxiety and other mood disorders as well as improve memory.

KD-3 (Kidney Meridian)

This kidney point is used to create balance and replenish energy in the body, often to treat issues associated with aging. Arthritis, dementia, incontinence, hair loss, and lower back and knee issues are all medical conditions that can be treated with marijuana. It is also located in the foot area. Place your thumb on the inside anklebone and move it towards the Achilles’ tendon until you reach the sunken area between the bone and tendon to locate it.

GV-20 (Governing Vessel)

The Governing Vessel is the meridian that runs along the length of the spine. This is the meridian that is most commonly associated with KD-1 acupressure. This acupoint is located at the top of the head on its center line (from front to back) on the perpendicular line drawn between the tops of the ears. A point that is located near other areas that it is used to treat headaches, vertigo, ear/nose/throat issues, and mental disorders.