Can trendy ‘ear seeds’ treat aches and illness?

TikTok boasts some pretty unbelievable trends — and its latest dangles the promise of curing all manner of discomfort.

Users on the video-sharing app are touting an ancient alternative medicine, called “ear seeds.” Tagged videos proclaiming the power of ear seeds have over 90.5 million views on the app.

Although it sounds like a practice involving pouring seeds into one’s ear, it is described by health professionals as acupuncture for the ear — and patients are claiming the treatment changed their life.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the concept of ear seeds are based in traditional Chinese medicine, as a form of auriculotherapy, which uses acupressure points in the ear to stimulate other parts of the body.

Ear seeds in this contemporary iteration refers to tiny, specially designed latex stickers that contain a ripe seed from the Vaccaria plant, which are applied to pressure points on the ear. Depending on their location, the seeds are said to treat aches and paints throughout the body, as well as relieve anxiety and stress.

They’re also rather fetching. Although seeds of the past may have been less aesthetically appealing, some crafty ear seed enthusiasts have reimagined them as something that resembles jewelry, or can blend in with the wearer’s skin tone.

In one clip, user Jennifer Larkin shows off her new ear seeds, which look like gemstone studs at the front but have the small seed at the back, which would make contact with the pressure point.

“I love them so much and have been wearing them all week for headaches & digestion,” she gushed in the caption.