Care
Ear seeds
Tiny seeds, usually from a plant, taped to points on one or both ears. Between visits you press them gently for a minute a few times a day. They carry no needle and no medicine, and they suit people whose counts make needles a poor idea. I use them alongside your oncology care.
Who usually comes for it
People between visits who want something to do at home
People with low blood counts
People who dislike needles
Services
What a visit is like, in order
- 01
Step 1: We talk
About 5 minutes on how you are and which ear to use.
- 02
Step 2: I place the seeds
Three to five seeds, each on a small piece of tape. It takes a few minutes and you feel almost nothing.
- 03
Step 3: You press at home
A gentle press for about a minute, a few times a day. I show you how.
- 04
Step 4: They come off
After three to five days they peel off easily. Take them off sooner if the skin is sore or itchy.
Services
Before and after
A little tenderness where you pressed is common. Some people get redness or itching from the tape. Take it off and tell me if it bothers you.
Tell me first
Allergies to tape or adhesive, skin trouble around the ear, and anything about your ears I should know. Tell me too if you are due for a scan or a procedure.
How many visits
Seeds last a few days, so I usually place them at a visit and replace them at the next one. It is a suggestion, not a promise, and results vary.
What it doesn't do, and when to call your oncology team instead
Ear seeds do not act on a tumor or change your oncology team's plan, and they do not replace any medicine. A fever, chills, bleeding that won't stop or a sudden change means calling your oncology team's number now, or 911 in an emergency.
Questions about ear seeds?
Call or write and I will answer within a working day.