What is Ear Seeding
Ear seeds are a relatively new technique developed in the last century.
The ear has been used for reflexology treatment for thousands of years. Now we know why they are innervated by the nervous Vagus, which also influences the sympathetic and parasympathetic function in the body, producing a strong influence on the rest of the body.
Instead of using the traditional acupuncture needles, recently in China, they started using Wang Bu Ling Xing (Vaccariae Semen), a famous seed in Chinese Pharmacopeia well known for its strong Qi and Blood moving properties.
It is a painless and effective treatment and an alternative to acupuncture.
History of Auricular therapy
In The Internal Classic of the Yellow Emperor (Huang Di Neijing), the Bible of Traditional Chinese medicine written about 26oo BC, we already find references to the relationship of the acupuncture meridians and the ears. The first Chinese scholar to make an ear reflexology map was Zhenjun Zhang. In Europe, the first known doctor to do studies on auricular therapy was the French Dr. Paul Nogier, who published an ear map in 1957. For a long time, Nogier's ear work has been a worldwide reference.
But in the last 50 years become very popular worldwide thanks to the incredible work of Li-Chun Huang, a Chinese M.D. who spent more than 40 years of her life researching and improving the art of Auricular therapy.
The science behind Auricular therapy
There are a lot of medically reviewed studies in this field, although most of them are done in China, and there are not available many medically reviewed studies, in English.
Thanks to being an MD focused on Traditional Chinese medicine; she was able to study ear morphological changes and their relationship with different pathologies and confirmed her discoveries with western medicine tests, like X-Rays, blood work, MRI, etc.
She was able to confirm the correlation of the diagnosis done observing the ear with the confirmation of western medicine test, giving treatment with ear seeds, and also confirming the evolution and healing of the pathologies from a western medical point of view.
Relationship between the ear and nervous system
There are many branches of important nerves irradiating the ears, branches of cranial nerves, and spinal nerves. Let's see some examples:
The trigeminal nerve, and its branch, the auriculotemporal nerve, can be found in the ear. This nerve controls the pain sensation in the head and face, the action of chewing, and has a strong connection to the spinal cord.
The lesser occipital nerve and the great auricular nerve are branches of spinal nerves that travel through the ear and have control over muscles of the trunk and extremities.
We also find branches of the vagus and gloss pharyngeal nerve, which regulates respiration, the cardiovascular system, salivation, vomiting, etc.
The ear is seen as an image of the whole body. It is seen as a baby fetus, with the head facing down, the same way a baby is in the womb of the mother.
Benefits of ear seeds
We use Ear seeds are used to improve health, in the same way, as other reflexology therapies. In the ear, we can find points that have a strong relationship with different parts of the human body. In that way, after making a diagnosis, we choose the right points, then use ear seeds, cover them with a piece of tape, and provide a gentle acupressure massage. This stimulation has a lot of benefits. It may help reduce chronic pain, and insomnia, improve digestion, etc.
Ear seeds vs ear acupuncture in auriculotherapy
Both are great medical treatments, both benefits health and stimulate the different functions of the human body.
The main benefit of ear seeds over acupuncture needles is that they are pain-free.
Acupuncture produces a stronger stimulation than the ear seeds, but the ear seeds can be worn 24 hours from 3 to 5 days, so in the end, they stimulate the ear even more than the needles.
Both techniques have almost no side effects and, without using any substance, safely promote healthy benefits, without burns, without damaging the skin, and with no risks of infection.
How are ear seeds used?
1) First, make an accurate diagnosis.
The ear is like an open book, and it shows everything that is happening, and that has happened in the whole body. One skilled acupuncturist can read your ear and is able to know what is happening and how to help you.
For example, the ear in this picture shows clearly that this person has knee pains, low back pains, and probably ovary cysts and painful periods.
2) Second, apply the seed to the right spots.
Once we have made the right diagnosis, we apply the seeds to the correct locations and provide a gentle massage in the area, increasing the effect of the seeds.
How long should you keep your seeds on?
You should leave the seeds on for three or five days, and you should give a gentle massage a few times a day. After three or five days (depending on the condition), you should remove them.
"Ear acupuncture near me"
This is a classic search online for people that understand the importance of this kind of treatment.
At Soul Acupuncture & Herbal, we have been following the education of the most famous Ear Acupuncturist in the world, Li-Chun Huang, famous for developing modern auricular therapy and for promoting the use of ear seeds instead of acupuncture needles. She was very popular in China and was the personal therapist of the president of China.
In our clinic, we are specialists in reading the ear, providing accurate diagnoses, and providing effective treatments using ear seeds.
Possible Benefits of Auriculotherapy in General
Auricular therapy may help to improve a great variety of conditions. It works as a reflexology treatment so that it can help any function in the body, from musculoesqueletal pain to internal organ stimulation.
Once the root cause of the condition is addressed, it can speed up the recovery very quickly.
It has a long reputation for helping with this kind of condition:
Digestive system:
Ulcers
Gastritis
Constipation
Diarrhea
Fatty liver
Hemorrhoids, etc.
Respiratory system:
Bronchitis
Cough
Asthma
Muscle-Joint pain:
Cervical - neck pain
Low back pain
Sacroiliac joint pain
Knee arthritis
Tennis elbow, etc.
Gynecological disease:
Painful menstruation
Endometriosis
Ovary cysts
Pelvic inflammation, etc
These are just a few examples. Actually, all parts of the body can be treated with Auricular therapy.
It is the perfect complementary treatment for any other kind of therapy.
Since the ear seeds are not puncturing the skin, it considerably reduces the risks of ear infection or damage. It also is very comfortable and painless. It is the perfect alternative for people who are scared of needles. It has almost no side effects and improves de benefits of any other therapy.
Other Ear treatments considerations
What is ear candling?
Ear candling is a very famous technique used to remove ear wax.
It is a classic folk remedy totally unrelated to Auricular therapy. It is often used to release earaches produced by the accumulation of earwax in the ear canal. The combustion of the ear candles produces a suction in the ear canal and extracts the excess ear wax from the ear canal.
It does not address the root of the problem but can be a useful temporary release, and if it is done properly, and with caution, it should not produce any side effects.
The patient should lie down on their side, with their affected ear facing up, then with the help of someone, introduce the ear candle into the ear canal and light it up and let the candle burns.