There I was on a crowded New York subway after a workday.
Not being an acupuncture regular, I had no idea what these were.
The email explained that ear seeds could be a solution for a variety of issuesstress and anxiety included.
I’d love to try!"
I typed as fast as my fingers would allow.
Vie Healingis a Los Angelesbased wellness company and spa founded by acupuncturist and herbalistMona Dan, LAc, MTOM.
But one of their most famous services is24K Ear Seeds.
Ear seeds are a longtime practice in traditional Chinese medicine and fall under theacupuncture umbrella.
While not all ear seeds are the same, they typically come pre-attached to adhesive paper for easy software.
Fast-forward to my appointment.
“You have four main interventions in your ear, and they send signals directly to the brain.
The distance is so close, it happens almost instantly.”
She explains to me that her specific seeds are 24K-gold-plated magnets, which she says improve circulation.
“Because these are magnets, you get that micro-stimulation over that five-day period,” she tells me.
Most seeds require applying pressure throughout the dayor when you need itfor the intended effect.
And then she picks up the seedsone at a timeand places them on fivepinpoints on the ear.
Then there’s point zero to bring the body into balance.
The heart point regulates blood flow and is said to balance emotions.
The brain point is supposed to regulate our brain chemistry.
And it ends with the endocrine point, known as our hormone regulator.
She instructs me that in five days I’d have to remove them, as gold does oxidize.
I feel them pretty quickly.
To start, you feel pressure on the ear.
I imagine it like a few hours after getting your ears pierced.
The pain’s dulled, but you still feel the warmth and sensation of something new.
(Worthy of note: This feeling doesn’t really go away.
It’s not painful or deeply uncomfortablebut it’s there.)
In the days to come, I also get the occasional compliment on the aesthetic.
Tiny, low-stakes piercings.
I know it’s not why you should get them, but when something looks chic with well-being benefits?
Yes, c’mon!
As for the rest: The full-body sensation washes over pretty quickly, too.
This lasted all day and into the next (I got it done on a Friday morning).
I’m pretty confident nothing can temper those.
But each time I really needed a moment of pause, I would press them.
“In reality, it is a form of therapy and should be seen as such.
As with any therapy, such as physical therapy or psychotherapy, there is always a treatment plan.”
By the end of the day TuesdayDay 5I took them out as instructed.
I don’t know if I would do this regularly, but I will definitely do again.
