Recently, TikTok influencers have been buzzing about a traditional health practice known as ear seeding. This ancient technique, also called auricular acupressure, is gaining attention for its supposed health benefits, despite its roots dating back thousands of years. It involves stimulating specific points on the ear using small beads or seeds attached to adhesive material. Similar to auricular acupuncture but without the use of needles.
Understanding Ear Seeding
Dr. Sue Kim, a medical acupuncturist, explains that it’s simply a process where tiny metallic beads or other materials like seeds or ceramic beads are strategically placed on the surface of the ear. This practice has gained traction on TikTok, with hashtags like #earseeding and dedicated channels accumulating millions of views. Many TikTok users and some emerging research suggest that this practice, derived from traditional Chinese medicine, may alleviate various health issues such as chronic pain, stress, and weight loss.