Ear Seed Acupressure Add-On Treatment

What is Ear Acupressure?

A treatment you can wear home! Scroll below to see how to add them to your treatment.

Ear acupressure stimulates points on the ear that correspond to different areas of the body – the same points I would do for someone in an acupuncture treatment but using a round seed or pellet taped to the skin.

In addition to helping the specific area, all ear acupressure also helps to calm the nervous system.  Have you ever gently massaged a child’s ear to help them calm when upset?

A branch of the vagus nerve goes out to the ear – this is our “rest and digest” nerve, opposite of our “fight/flight/freeze/fawn” system. 

What are Ear Seeds?

I offer two options:

The first is literally a seed of the vaccaria plant which is used in Chinese herbal medicine for invigorating the blood and stimulating circulation. This is on a piece of beige-colored fabric, non-latex tape.

The second is a gold pellet affixed with a clear, non-latex tape with a Swvaroski crystal on the outside. Gold is a tonifying element, considered to be nourishing and replenishing. 

How do you choose?

I can help you choose which points to do.  For the Ear Seed options, both are beneficial, so don’t overthink it.  Simply, do you want subtle, or do you want fancy?

What do you do with it?

Just by the Ear Seed being there, it gives a gentle pressure to the point.  When you are feeling symptomatic or stressed, you can gently press the seed (don’t cause discomfort) and take 3 slow breaths.

They typically stay in place for 1 to 7 days. This might be shorter if your ears tend to be oily, if you’re sweating more, or if something accidentally brushes against it. It is okay to shower with them in.

They will fall out on their own, or you can remove them when you’re ready.

Are they safe?

Yes.  They are round and only taped to the skin, so nothing pierces the skin.

Sometimes there may be a little tenderness at the point. If it lasts a short while, that’s fine. If it goes on too long, take it out.

Do not leave them in longer than 7 days or they might start irritating the point.

Depending on the placement, you might feel some pressure if you sleep on your side. Try a different position or remove the seed. Let me know for your next placement if we need to avoid certain spots.

If the area gets red, sore, or itchy, take them out.

Ear Seeds at the Clinic

Treatment Add-On (after acupuncture)

I can place Ear Seeds at the end of your acupuncture appointment.  Let me know at the start of your appointment so we leave enough time at the end. 

Treatment Add-On Cost – $5 for 1 pair, $10 for 2 pairs

Ear Seed Placement Appointment (no acupuncture)

For established patients only (sorry, no walk-ins off the street), you can come in for quick appointment for Ear Seed placement only.  

You can call to schedule a time days in advance, 815-942-2580 or you can try calling same day to see if we have a good time that you can come in. It’s very quick, but we can’t interrupt treatments in progress, so you might have to wait a few minutes.  

Ear Seed Placement Appointment – $10 for 1 pair, $20 for 2 pairs