Ear Seeds FAQ

But first, wait. What are Ear Seeds?

Ear Seeds are tiny acupressure pellets that stick to your ears. Your ears are covered in powerful nerve endings that communicate with the brain. Stimulation of those nerve endings relay messages that tell your body to reach for homeostasis. 

Homeo-what? Homeostasis - That's the tendency of a system to reach for stability or balance, in order to maintain normal condition or function. So basically, if something in your body is out-of-whack ear seeds will attempt to bring it back to balance.

That whole concept seems a little out-of-whack. Did you just make this up in order to sell me pretty stick-on earrings? 

Nope. The concepts and use of Auriculotherapy (like reflexology, but on the ear) have been around for centuries. It has roots in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and many other medical systems throughout the world. The system we follow today was in large part developed by a french physician, Dr. Paul Nogier, in the 1950's. 

Yea, OK. But is it proven? 

Yes. There are hundreds of studies which you can research.  Here and here  are some good links to start at. You'll notice a lot of studies that have only recently been launched, likely due to the current popularity of this ancient modality.

Also, here, here and here (Scroll to the "innervation" paragraph) are some great articles about the nerve endings that live on the ear and the western medicine knowledge about those nerves and what stimulating them can do.  

So, what exactly can I use them for?

Well, the nerves that run across the ear connect to every system of the body. This is just a tiny sampling.

• Sympathetic / Parasympathetic Nervous System  > think stress, anxiety, depression.
• Digestive System > think stomach pain, digestive support, healthy weight management
• Inner Organs > heart, liver and kidneys
• Outer Organs > eyes & skin disorders
• Circulatory System > blood flow, numbness, tingling
• Musculoskeletal System > Physical pain & Injury

Honestly, that doesn't even cover all of it, but yeah. There's a lot of points for a lot of things. 

What are the seeds made of?

Ear Seeds can be made from a variety of different materials. Their main function lies in the pressure they provide to the specifically selected points on the ear.  

Spark'd Ear Seeds are made from magnetic metal pellets coated in 24K gold.

Why that? 

In Chinese medicine gold is believed to carry tonifying properties. The magnetic properties are said to help increase blood circulation by interacting with the iron in the blood. 

Also, Pretty. 

What if I don't get them on the right spot?

Well, lucky for you, there are no "wrong" spots, so you don't have to worry that a seed that misses the spot will be problematic. It won't be.  You might not get the result you're after though. 

Some tips to help with placement:

• Use an ear probe or the corner of your tweezers to feel for tenderness in the area. Particularly if it's a chronic or pain issue, the ear will often reflect the body's imbalance in that area with heightened tenderness at the point, or even red veins, bumps or discolorations. 
• Cluster a few seeds in the area. Nothing wrong with being a little extra!

Do they hurt?

Generally no. They won't hurt though they may feel a little "zingy" on those activated points. 

Occasionally though, they might start to hurt. That's not necessarily a bad thing. When you hit the right points, they might be extra tender. 

1. If you're addressing a specific issue- often pain related, the pain in your ear will subside as the pain in the body part does. It's pretty amazing 
2. If it's super painful, you can remove them for sleeping and apply fresh ear seeds after the ear has had some time to rejuvenate.
3. Crystal ear seeds may be a little more zingy than the plain gold, since the flat back of the crystal exerts extra pressure on the pellet. 
4. And finally, make sure you're not having an allergic reaction to the adhesive tape or the metal in the gold plated pellet. We use only the highest quality, hypo-allergenic, latex-free medical grade tape but some people may still have a reaction to that. If you have a nickel allergy you might also want to avoid the seeds. If you have an allergic reaction, discontinue use and consult a medical pro if necessary. 

Do they have side-effects?

If you mean positive side effects, YEAH! They make you feel great, inside and out! OH! You mean negative side effects? Nothing more than the possible tenderness mentioned above.

How long do I wear them?

Seeds are expected to stay in place 2-4 days. If they're still on after a week, take them off. Wait a few hours and reapply--- or apply to different spots. You can mix and match points at your whim!

Do I put them on both ears?

Generally, yes. BUT if you are experiencing one-sided pain- like you pulled your neck on the left side or twisted your ankle, you only really need them on that same side. 

What if they don't stick?

First, make sure you're cleaning your ears with alcohol-- get all the wax, shampoo residue, dirt and other stuff off.

Next, Make sure you handle the ear seeds with tweezers only. Touch as little of the adhesive tape as possible and get placement right the first time. They won't re-stick with the same intensity if you place, remove and reapply.

After placing, use the pad of your finger to hold in place for 5-10 seconds. Your body heat will activate the adhesive to help ensure a long-lasting stick.  

I can't seem to see or reach my ears? 

It can take a lil bit of practice to get it right, and you can always ask a friend or family member to help. Set up some mirrors so you can see you ear, or snap a picture of your ear to pinpoint the place you're aiming for. 

Are they reusable?

Nope. Not as ear seeds. But if you wanna reuse the crystals for a craft project, go for it!

Can I pierce my ear for the same effect? 

Common belief is that if you pierce though an auriculotherapy point you may initially experience results but as the hole heals, the point will die and become un-stimulatable. This is especially true for hollow needle piercings. 

Also, most piercers have no idea what they're aiming for. 

Also x2, if you're curious about daith piercings that people often reference as helpful for migraines, we can't speak to that. We will say that they are pierced nowhere near the headache points. 

How long will it take to see results?

Can't say. Seriously, this is a modality, not a magic pill. Some people experience some level of result immediately, and others, after a few hours or days. Some people may not notice results at all. 

This variation in response is due to so many factors:
- What you are seeding for
- What points you seeded, and your accuracy of placement
- What the underlying cause for your issue is
- How long the issue has been present
- Your personal reactivity to nerve stimulation - some people have nerve endings really close to the surface and some have more rugged ears with less prominent veins. 

Sometimes the effects are subtle and you may not even realize you're experiencing them... the pain just slowly lessened, or the anxiety or cravings just naturally melted away... It's not a lightning bolt, it's more like a whisper. 

What types of things can they be used for?

Each starter or trio pack comes with great points for mood, stress relief, combat cravings and weight management, sleep and some other bonus points. But ear seeds can be used for a ton of other things too. 

I have some strange and unique condition- can you tell me where to put them? 

We might be able to give you some pointers, but we can not diagnose or create any kind of custom protocol for you. We are a product biz and that's outside the scope of our abilities. But lucky for you, you can find a trained and certified Ear Seeds Practitioner HERE, who may be able to help you!

I LOVE Ear Seeds! I wanna learn how to use them like a pro. Can you show me how?

You bet! You can learn more about our various training classes here!