Can ‘ear seeds’ boost my mood?

Q:I tend to get a bit blue when the seasons change, so my friend suggested I try “ear seeds.” She says they help her manage mild depression, but they seem a little out-there. Do they really work?

A:Yes! Ear seeds are a DIY form of acupuncture. Instead of needles, a round, smooth seed is affixed to a piece of adhesive tape and placed in the ear to stimulate acupressure points. Called auriculotherapy, the practice, like acupuncture, is based on the premise that good health requires flow of energy through body-wide meridians. Stimulating acupressure points in the ear can clear energy blockages to improve health. The effect is so powerful that even professional acupuncturists use ear seeds—those on our staff use them to calm their cravings!

I advise ear seeds for patients who don’t like needles or can’t get to an acupuncturist, and I like the easy-to-use kits from EarSeeds.com. You can keep the seeds in for up to a week, take a day off, then apply a new set. You should start feeling better in a couple of weeks.