\n<\/p>\n
7:15 a.m.: I wake up naturally (odd) with a little headache.<\/p>\n
7:30 a.m.: I peel 2 ear seed stickers off of a strip of 20 and place one on the inside of each ear on a \u201cheadache\u201d spot according to an ear map I find online.<\/p>\n
7:33 a.m.: I start my getting-ready-in-the-mirror playlist and keep it moving.<\/p>\n
7:45 a.m.:<\/em> I already notice I\u2019m not noticing my headache.<\/p>\n The first time I tried ear seeding<\/a>, the tiny black spheres were taped into my ears at the end of an acupuncture<\/a> session. At the time, I was unable to tie my blissed-out mood to their specific potential. Soon enough, though, I started doing it at home and haven\u2019t stopped talking about it since. At a backyard gathering in the West Village, I passed a kit around to confused partygoers. And I\u2019ve carried a pack of Swarovski-and-gold seeds (very chic!) from New York to Paris during fashion month more times than I can count.<\/p>\n \u201cAcupressure has been used for thousands of years in many cultures,\u201d says Gudrun Snyder, LAc, a doctor of acupuncture at Moon Rabbit Acupuncture,<\/a> who found ear seeding so essential for her patients that she created at-home kits<\/a>. \u201cIt is a great way to relieve aches<\/a> and pains.\u201d Snyder explains that in traditional Chinese medicine, ear seeding follows the same principles of acupuncture, which works on energy (or qi) channels.<\/p>\n In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ear is considered a map, or microcosm, of the entire body. The thin skin of the ear makes it easy to activate nerves. \u201cOn our skin, there are specific acupuncture or acupressure points that can be stimulated in order to regulate how our energy flows. When energy is stuck, pain, illness, or emotional upset can result,\u201d says Snyder. \u201cAcupressure can help to unblock the flow of this energy.\u201d She adds that it\u2019s a safe method for nearly all ages, from young children to older adults, to deal with issues that may typically be handled with a pill. \u201cHeadaches are something we see often, and they\u2019re one of the clearest reflections of how the body holds stress,<\/a> tension, and internal imbalance.\u201d she says. \u201cIn Traditional Chinese Medicine, headaches are understood through patterns\u2014commonly involving Liver Yang rising, Qi stagnation, external Wind, or the accumulation of Heat or Dampness. Headaches aren\u2019t just symptoms\u2014they\u2019re signals. The location, intensity, and timing all point to a different internal pattern.\u201d She considers ear seeding a practice that helps guide the body into balance over time.<\/p>\n \u201cEar seeding can absolutely help headaches, but it does depend on the root cause,\u201d says Jill Jancic, L.Ac., a licensed acupuncturist at Golden Door, one of Vogue Spa Guide\u2019s 100 best in the world<\/a>, who wears them herself. \u201cWhile Vaccaria seeds are traditionally used, I personally love crystal ear seeds as they have great pressure points,\u201d she says of their mix of fashion and function. \u201cThere are various auricular points such as shen men, which addresses general stress<\/a>, and points that connect to areas of the body like the brain and neck. It\u2019s helpful to know the cause of the headaches for the most effective point selection.\u201d Jancic recommends getting a chart kit from earseeds.com<\/a> for help with point location. On a clean, dry ear, apply to the preferred point and pause. \u201cIt\u2019s best to take a mindful moment for yourself. Whether it\u2019s lying or sitting down for 5 minutes, allow yourself that time to connect with your intention, and tune into the feeling or goal that you\u2019re going for,\u201d says Jancic. \u201cWhen you press the ear seeds with the intention of reducing stress and tension, it can help to settle the system, which can also help headaches.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n