What Is Auriculotherapy?

Auriculotherapy is the stimulation of specific points on the ear, which is believed to be a microsystem of the entire body.

How does it work?

Small black seeds from the vaccaria plant or small metal beads or pellets are secured on the ear with a piece of adhesive tape over specific acupressure points. The continuous mild pressure they exert is amplified by stimulating the seed or pellet with a few seconds of fingertip massage every few hours. Ear seeds are non-invasive, meaning, unlike needles or tacks, they are affixed on the surface of the ear and do not puncture the skin.

What’s the difference between the ear seeds and the metal pellets or beads?

The seeds in our Condition-Specific Kits are natural organic matter and are especially useful for patients who are sensitive to metals. They are held in place with tan colored tape and can generally be expected to stay in place 3-5 days, depending on the area of the ear where they’ve been placed. Please note the tape used in our vaccaria ear seeds contains latex. 

The metal pellets or beads are generally smaller and are held in place with clear tape which is less conspicuous. Clear tape is latex-free. Metal pellets can be expected to stay in place 2-4 days, depending on the area of the ear where they’ve been placed. All of our Swarovski Crystal and Limited Edition Ear Seeds use metal pellets plated in 24-karat gold.

How Long Do I have To Leave Them In My Ear?

EarSeeds can be left on for up to 5 days, even with showering, sleeping, swimming etc. They may fall off sooner, depending on where they’ve been placed. After 5 days of wear, remove seeds and allow the skin to rejuvenate for 8-24 hours before replacement. Following this cycle, you can continue to wear them on an ongoing basis. 

How Exact Do I Need To Be With The Ear Seed Placement?

Although you do want to get very close to the designated point, the location of the point shown in each condition-specific kit is indicative of that general area. Using the corner of the tweezers or a probe, feel for a tender spot. Sometimes you may also see a discoloration or prominent vein in the area. If the general area feels sensitive you can apply more than one ear seed close together. 

If you’re unsure if your placement is correct, take some time to review our ear point videos and our Tour Of The Ear. Have a friend, family member or your acupuncturist help. Once you learn to understand the general landscape of the ear, it is easier to find the correct point in relation to the areas surrounding it. 

Are The Ear Seeds The Same In Each Kit?

Our condition-specific kits all include 120 vaccaria ear seeds on tan colored adhesive tape, as well as a Stainless Steel Tweezers. It is the chart and point locations that change depending on the condition of your specific kit. 

Are Ear Seeds Reusable?

All of our seeds and pellets, including the Swarovski Crystal ones, are disposable and should not be reused. 

What if the ear seeds are not sticking well on my ear?

First be sure you are using the included tweezers to pinch just the corner of your ear seeds and touch as little of the tape as possible. Once the tape touches your ear it cannot be moved and re-secured. It won’t stick well.

Next, be sure your ears are thoroughly cleaned and dry. Many people have a thin wax build up they are unaware of.  Use an alcohol swab to gently clean the entire outer ear. Be sure your ears are completely dry before applying the ear seeds.

Occasionally the seeds may feel “loose” when they are initially placed but the bond will actually get stronger after a little bit of time. When massaging seeds onto ear be sure you’re pushing the whole ear and not just shifting the tape.

Be sure to store the seeds in their original packaging and keep out of sunlight as that may break down the adhesive sooner than expected.

Note about adhesives: Generally adhesive tapes have an expected lifespan of 1-2 years before the adhesive starts breaking down. If you feel your EarSeeds have under-performed we are happy to replace them within 6 months of purchase. Please email info@earseeds.com and include the batch number hand-written on the sticker attached to each item. 

Ear seeds may fall off sooner in children. They may also fall off sooner on curved ridges and in the inner concha area of the ear. 

If you have followed all of these tips and still find the ear seeds aren’t sticking to the ears, you can pick up a bottle of ear seed tape adhesive. Please note this adhesive will allow your seeds to stick longer than our recommended 5 days. We strongly advise you to manually remove the seeds to avoid irritation from prolonged wear.

Are There Any Side-Effects Or Contraindications?

If you are pregnant please consult your doctor before using Ear Seeds.

If skin irritation occurs from the ear seeds, or if swelling should occur, remove the ear seeds immediately  and contact your doctor if symptoms persist. The tan tape ear seeds contain latex and should not be used by those with a latex allergy.

Sometimes, when a point is “active” the ear seed will make the ear feel sore, tender and sensitive to touch. This is normal. If discomfort persists you can remove the seeds and reapply at a later time. This discomfort is different than a skin irritation.

On rare occasion, some extremely sensitive people may experience slight nausea or dizziness upon application. This should disappear within the first few minutes after application.

Never place Ear Seeds inside ear canal.

Ear Seeds can be used in conjunction with herbs and other ingestible medications without concern for contraindications.

For best results store ear seeds in a cool dry place.

Want to learn more about the history of Auriculotherapy? Watch this video.

Please Note: EarSeeds.com is a family business located in San Diego, California. All of our products are finished and assembled in the USA and our Swarovski Crystal embellished Ear Seeds are handmade by local artisans, crafters, military wives and college students. EarSeeds® Brand Swarovski Crystal Ear Seeds are created using a proprietary “glueless” production process that we created to maintain the highest level of quality and lifespan possible.  

Call for your appointment today!

989-928-1374