Overview
- Ear seeding has surged on TikTok and Instagram, with influencer demos, celebrity try‑ons and beauty retailers such as Mecca offering sessions.
- The technique places tiny beads or Vaccaria seeds on taped points of the ear to stimulate acupoints, with modern kits often using decorative metal or gold studs.
- Research remains limited to small, mostly Asian trials, with the strongest signals in reducing pain, easing anxiety and improving sleep as a supportive therapy.
- Clinicians report no robust evidence that ear seeds de‑puff, sculpt or lift the face, and they reject claims of treating respiratory, digestive or endocrine problems.
- Experts describe the practice as generally low‑risk but note possible skin irritation or cartilage trauma and warn against using it in place of needed medical care.