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Do you want to try and manage your pain in a new way? Are you tired of feeling down or popping an Advil every morning? Acupressure points may provide you the relief you are looking for. Below, we laid out three ear acupressure points charts and their health benefits.
Acupressure is a method utilized heavily in China for centuries. It is based on the same principles as acupuncture, which is used to promote relaxation and sometimes even treat disease. Traditional Chinese medical theory believes that the body has invisible channels of energy running throughout it, called Qi (Ch’i.)
This energy flow begins in the fingers, flows to the brain, and then throughout the body to connect your system of organs. These channels can get blocked or become out of balance, and you can develop ailments. Acupressure uses specific points in the body to help restore alignment and balance in this energy flow. A great place on the body to bring balance back to your Qi is the ears.
What Does Acupuncture In The Ears Do?
Acupuncture in the ears can help serve the entire body. The nerves in the ear connect with the reflex centers in the brain which are the pathways the brain uses to send messages to the spine and any targeted part of the body.
What Are Ear Seeds?
Ear seeds look exactly like they sound! They are little bead-like pellets that have adhesive on one side so they can stay in place. Ear seeds were traditional made from the Vaccaria plant but are commonly made out of metal and ceramic today.
As explained above, your Qi or energy flow dictates your health, and these energy channels are found all over the body. When seeds are placed on certain spots in the ears, it can calm the nervous system, balance hormones, and improve stagnant energy flow. The shape and positioning within the ears have been heavily studied by acupuncturists and deemed a microcosm of your whole body, representing an upside-down fetus. The ear lobe is the head and face, the feet are at the top of the ear, and the curved edge is the spine.
Ear Seeds, when placed accordingly, have been known to treat many conditions such as:
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Migraines
- Chronic Pain
- Insomnia
- Addition
- And many more
How Are Ear Needles And Ear Seeds Different?
Ear Acupressure and Acupuncture are similar practices, but they do hold some key differences. Ear needles actually puncture the skin at a specific pressure point and remain in the ear for the entire duration of the acupuncture treatment. Ear Seeds, however, do not puncture the skin at all. Instead, they reside on top of the skin, merely applying pressure to specific points in the ear.
How Do You Put Ear Seeds On?
The most important part of using Ear Seeds is making sure they are on the correct pressure point for the ailments you are trying to treat, but there are a few tricks to the trade when applying them and utilizing an ear acupressure points chart is a great first step.
- Make sure your ear is clean because the Ear Seeds need to be able to stick to the ear with adhesive
- Using tweezers can make it easier to get them to the right point.
- Apply pressure and massage them two or three times a day or whenever you are experiencing symptoms.
- Don’t leave them on for more than 2-3 weeks at a time.
Are Ear Seeds Safe to Use?
The great thing about Ear Seeds is that there is almost no risk in giving them a try. The worst thing that can happen is nothing, so why not give it a go?
Obviously, if you are sensitive to adhesives on your skin, proceed with caution. Also, keep an eye on them, and if they do begin to irritate your skin, it might be best to remove them.
Ear Acupressure Points Chart For Heel Pain
Because the ear represents an upside-down fetus, as described above, it makes sense that the top of the ear would focus on the heel. In case you don’t know, Shen Men is the Neurogate or spirit gate of the body. The pressure points in this ear acupressure points chart work wonders at calming an overworking mind as well as treats pain and tense muscles all over the body. This point can also be used to correct chronic low energy.
Shen Men is also a great pressure point for the treatment of:
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Insomnia
- Stress
- Depression
Related: Gua Sha for plantar fasciitis
Ear Acupressure Points Chart For TMJ
Do you grind your teeth at night? Or do you possibly chew a lot of gum? Whatever the case may be, these ear acupressure points charts show the points that are good for you. Because the head of the fetus is represented in the ear lobe, it makes sense that the jaw and cheek points would reside there.
The Adrenal Gland point aids in the success of the kidney point by taking charge of the adrenal hormones that are related to stress responses. It also reduces pain and improves the body’s natural anti-inflammatory processes.
TMJ, or Temporomandibular Disorder, is a disease that affects the jaw muscles, teeth, periodontal structured, the orofacial structures, and the temporomandibular joint. Ear acupuncture points have been widely known to relieve the pain associated with this physical issue. The stimulation of this point releases cortisol, endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin because of the activation of the neural centers in the midbrain, spinal cord, and pituitary gland.
Related: Find out more about TMJ pressure points.
Ear Acupressure Points Chart For Low Back Pain
The Kidney is actually the organ in the body that completely holds a person’s entire genetic constitution and this includes the present status of someone’s health which is why it is such a critical pressure point in the ear charts. It can aid in the reduction of symptoms in many chronic ailments.
The kidney is the core of Qi flow because it holds and grounds the energy. This is why the kidneys keep a person healthy and balanced. This includes physical health and mental health. The kidney is strongly connected to development, meaning puberty and menopause.
This pressure point for the ears is also strongly connected to the:
- Back
- Knees
- Lower jaio
- Blood
- Hearing
- Hair on the head
Related: Does acupuncture work for sciatic nerve pain?
Is There Actually Any Proof Of The Benefits Of Ear Acupressure Treatments?
With so much false advertising and scam-like wellness products out there, it is important to understand whether a product truly works or not before diving into the process.
Studies have shown that ear acupressure is a beneficial treatment. A study comparing the effects of ear acupressure compared to massage therapy on specific patients suffering from dementia revealed higher benefits from the patients who used the ear acupressure treatments. Another study that focused on immediate pain relief revealed that ear acupressure showed higher levels of success in relieving pain than other traditional methods.
Where Can You Find Ear Seeds?
Lucky for you, you can buy everything you need to start using ear seeds at TCM Tips. Here, you can buy a full Ear Seed Kit for Multiple Conditions. This kit even comes with a clear-cut guide for placement if you are a total beginner. The instructions will tell you exactly how and where to put the Ear Seeds. You will also get tools to help you more easily apply them to your ears.
This kit includes over 600 ear seeds which is amazing! These seeds are made from the traditional Vaccaria flower plant as well and will even stay in place when you shower. There is also a great eBook that comes with this kit entitled “The Beginner’s Guide to Auricular Therapy” so that there is little to no chance that you will walk away from this purchase confused or at a loss or what to do. Plus, you get all of that for an incredibly reasonable price.
