I'm a scientist... here's the truth about trendy 'ear seeds'

Scientists have blasted the wellness fad of ear seeds, calling them 'part of a theater of deception' and a 'security blanket for the Instagram generation.'

The concept — from traditional Chinese medicine — sees people stick fingernail-sized latex stickers that contain a ripe seed to areas of their ear.

Posts about the fad on TikTok claim it can reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, pain and even improve someone's mood. Many patients have come forward attesting to its alleged benefits.

But researchers analyzing the trend were quick to say there was no concrete evidence to back up the claims.

And they warned it could be unsafe, saying the seeds could fall and become lodged in the ear canal — which may require a trip to the ER to remove them.

Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator at McGill University in Canada, warned: 'I don't want to dismiss the temporary empowerment we can feel by doing something, anything, to address illness.

'But ear seeds, the new kids on the acupuncture block, are little more than a security blanket for the Instagram generation.'

Ear seeds are a form of ear acupressure, or a form of alternative medicine that involves stimulating various points on the outer ear to address health concerns.

The seeds — from the Vaccaria plant, also known as the cowcockle — are meant to be stuck to the ear by an expert, to ensure they are on the right pressure point.

People are then supposed to massage them several times a day for three to five days to gain benefits before removing them.

Celebrities including Penelope Cruz have used ear acupuncture, with the actress pictured in 2013 with a row of four gold beads in her ear — similar to the ear seed therapy.

Many patients attest to their benefits, and several studies on ear seeds have suggested that they help with back pain, weight loss and depression.

But scientists reading the research have pushed back on the claims, saying studies involve too few people — about 50 on average — for any conclusions to be drawn from them.

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Mr Jarry, writing online for McGill University, continued: 'Given the low quality of the numerous studies done on ear acupuncture and ear acupressure, combined with its very low plausibility, the only sensible conclusion to reach right now is that these interventions are part of a theater of deception.'

He added: 'And it's not necessarily safe.

'Using ear seeds instead of needles may give the illusion of safety, but be warned: These tiny seeds could very easily fall into the ear canal, necessitating a medical intervention to remove them.'

Dr David Strain, a lecturer at the UK's University of Exeter, added previously to DailyMail.com: ‘If those ear seeds helped [someone] feel better, then that’s great.

'But there’s no evidence that anyone else will experience a similar benefit.’

It is not clear how many people in the US may use ear seeds.

They are sold for about $14.99 for 300 ear seeds online.

Ear seeds caused consternation in the UK last year after an entrepreneur claimed they could ease chronic fatigue syndrome.

Giselle Boxer appeared on a program on a major British TV channel saying the seeds were part of her 'personal healing journey', and quickly received investments for her business.

But this prompted backlash online, with many people saying the claims were presented as fact and suggested that the seeds could 'cure' the condition.

The episode, which was also available online, was later edited to include the following warning: 'Acu seeds are not intended as a cure for any medical condition and advice should always be sought from a qualified healthcare provider about any health concerns.'