Ear seeds for anxiety Do they work and how to use them Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Ear seeds for anxiety Do they work and how to use themMedically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Jenna Fletcher on June 29, 2022Ear seeds can play a part in auriculotherapy, a type of acupressure therapy that focuses on the ear. Supporters of the technique state that the ear provides a sort of map to the natural energy — which some people call qi — that circulates throughout the body. By manipulating or stimulating certain points on the ear, they believe that qi can flow naturally through the body and therefore treat various health conditions, including anxiety. Ear seeds’ role in the therapy is to provide a means to apply pressure to the specific pressure points. This will reportedly restore the flow of qi that affects a person’s anxiety or stress levels. While many people believe ear seeds can be helpful, research is generally lacking and of poorer overall quality. This article reviews ear seeds, their use in anxiety, what the research says, and more. What are ear seeds Share on PinterestTatiane Silva/ShuttershockEar seeds are actual or synthetic seeds or very small, seed-like objects that a person or therapist can use to stimulate pressure points in the ear. People who support auriculotherapy believe these seeds can promote health by altering the flow of energy in the ears. A person or an acupuncturist can place the seeds directly on the ear. Once in place, they can use their fingers to manipulate and provide pressure to the ears. Each point corresponds with different areas of the body and symptoms associated with various conditions. An individual can work with a trained acupuncturist to place the ear seeds in the right spots to potentially help with anxiety symptoms. Types of ear seeds Ear seeds come in either natural or synthetic forms. Many of the synthetic forms come with self-adhesive backing, which allows a person to place them directly where they desire without needing to use tape. Natural ear seeds use Vaccaria seeds. Manufacturers may produce seeds using metal, glass, or other materials. A person can find ear seeds to use at home on Amazon. Can they help treat anxiety Clinical evidence suggesting ear seeds can treat or positively affect anxiety is lacking. In fact, studies confirming their benefit for any condition are lacking and often of poor clinical quality. Proponents of ear seeds claim that they can help improve a person’s anxiety and yield several other potential benefits. What the evidence says The clinical evidence on ear seeds is lacking. What evidence exists is not overwhelmingly positive and also does not necessarily address anxiety directly. For example, in a 2020 review of 15 studies, researchers looked at the results of using ear acupressure to help with trauma-related mental disorders following large-scale disasters. They found that evidence in the studies did not provide adequate evidence on its effectiveness or safety in people living with post-traumatic stress disorder. A 2018 study looking at the use of auriculotherapy on anxiety during labor had more promising results. In their triple-blind study, the researchers noted and recommended the use of ear acupressure to reduce anxiety during labor. In a 2019 article, experts pointed out that ear seeds represent the latest, “exotic” form of ear acupressure, which may influence users or study participants to report feeling that it has helped their symptoms. More importantly, they noted that earlier and existing studies were of poor clinical quality, smaller in size, and often contained biases where the researcher wanted to prove that they worked. However, proponents of ear seeds promote their use in reducing stress and anxiety. Since they are generally safe, a person who tries them may find that they help despite a lack of reliable clinical data. How to use ear seeds to treat anxiety First-time users of ear seeds or auriculotherapy should consult an acupuncturist to learn how to correctly place the ear seeds. These practitioners can help find the correct pressure points that may influence and treat their anxiety. If a person wishes to speak with an acupressure or acupuncture practitioner, they should check whether they have a board license to practice in their state. According to the Public Health Acupuncture of New Mexico, to treat anxiety or stress with ear seeds, a person needs to place them on three points:Shen Men: The Shen Men pressure point is roughly in the center top portion of the ear, a short way down from the top of the ear.Insomnia point: This point is almost parallel with the opening to the ear, just on the inside of the outer ridge of the ear structure.Point zero: Lying almost exactly in the center of the ear, it is on the end of the cartilage ridge that runs from the center of the ear and around the outside of the structure. Seed placement can vary according to the product a person uses. Many ear seeds feature self-adhesive backing, so a person only needs to place the seed using tweezers. Others, such as natural seeds, may require medical tape to secure them in place. A person should follow all instructions on the packaging of the seeds to ensure safety when using them. The largest likely risks include irritation at the site of placement and dropping a seed into the opening of the ear. Once in place, a person can apply gentle pressure to the seeds to stimulate the pressure points, reportedly reducing anxiety. Summary Ear seeds provide a newer form of auriculotherapy, a type of acupressure that focuses on the ear. Proponents claim that using the seeds in certain spots can stimulate the pressure points to help reduce anxiety and stress. While this may work for some, clinical evidence is lacking and generally of lower quality. A person who wishes to try ear seeds to treat their anxiety should consult an acupuncturist first. This is to learn the exact positions to place the seeds for anxiety relief. Last medically reviewed on June 29, 2022Anxiety / StressEar, Nose, and ThroatComplementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine 4 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Fredlund, E., et al. (n.d.). Public health acupuncture of nm: Using ear seeds for stress reduction. https://www.naccho.org/uploads/card-images/public-health-preparedness/NM-Integrative-Wellness-MRC-Public-Health-Acupuncture-JITT.pdfJarry, J. (2019). Bad science lends a friendly ear to ear seeds. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/pseudoscience/bad-science-lends-friendly-ear-ear-seedsKwon, C.-Y., et al. (2020). Effectiveness and safety of ear acupuncture for trauma-related mental disorders after large-scale disasters. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7034715/Mafetoni, R. R., et al. (2018). Effectiveness of auriculotherapy on anxiety during labor: A randomized clinical trial.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6136534/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Jenna Fletcher on June 29, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? 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