Ear seeding for better posture

With none other than my favorite beauty expert, Ava Lee.

Jan 23, 2026

During my infertility journey, I was truly doing all the things: acupuncture, herbal treatments, you name it. Ear seeding was one of the modalities I explored many years ago (though not until after pregnancy and it’s not recommended you do it while pregnant!). It’s a well-known practice in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), which I’ve long been drawn to for its emphasis on the mind–body connection and the belief that everything in the body is deeply interconnected.

it does sort of hurt if you couldn't tell by the picture but more on that later lol

With all of that in mind, I was really excited to try Glow by Ava’s ear seeds. The first time I tried ear seeds with her, we used the original V-Line sculpting set, meant to sharpen the jawline and create more definition in the face.

I asked Ava what drove her passion for the practice:

“I was drawn to ear seeding through my own wellness journey and a deep curiosity for ancient modalities that deliver real, visible results. I first discovered this ear therapy practice through my ear therapist, Joa, in Korea, and was genuinely shocked by how transformative it was for me.
I had tried everything, yet nothing created the same immediate lift, depuffing, and sense of balance. That experience made it feel essential to bring this practice to the U.S., especially since no brand was approaching it with the same level of intention or results.
Ear seeding sits at the intersection of beauty and nervous-system regulation — rooted in traditional ear therapy, yet incredibly modern in how quickly it can sculpt, calm, and reset the body. What I loved most was that it wasn’t about adding more to my routine, but about activating the body’s own intelligence.”

Shop the byAva ear seeds

In TCM, this mapping isn’t unique to the ear. I follow a similar map for the face when I’m giving myself a facial massage, because we know there are pressure points on the face that correspond to different organs. For example, breakouts on the cheeks can be linked to the liver or gallbladder. It’s all connected. So when you press on the ear seeds, that pressure is what really activates them and signals the body to respond.

Obviously, I’ve been obsessed with what Ava is doing and was excited to try the new Posture Correct Ear Seeds. Ava mentioned that the acupuncturist she developed them with was coming to New York, and I knew right away that I had to see her. We met up at a cute cafe called Oasis on 14th Street and Sixth Avenue. (I’d never been there before, but I ended up getting lentil soup and chicken soup and both were insanely delicious.)

The acupuncturist had me take my shoes off and took photos of my posture: my side profile, bending forward, and bending back. When I bent back, I noticed some minor lower back pain. That pain was completely gone once she placed the ear seeds on me.

What it is

The intention is to activate very specific points in the ear that correspond to different parts of the body. They definitely hurt when you press on them, which is actually the sign of a good thing. Basically: it encourages your body to relax, and that influences natural alignment and better posture.

How it works

The kit is placed along the antihelix, which is a key ear zone connected to the spine, shoulders, and overall posture. The three-seed placement stimulated these points. By activating this area, the body is encouraged to release tension, relax overworked muscles, and settle back into better alignment. It’s intentionally made to be easy to do at home.

It also blends mineral-rich clays with tourmaline and germanium to support circulation alongside botanicals like ginseng, Dong Quai, and adaptogens that help brighten, protect, and restore overall skin vitality.

The results

Once the acupuncturist placed the seeds on both ears, my shoulders dropped instantly. They weren’t hunched up near my ears anymore. My neck felt elongated, my shoulders sat lower. Importantly, I felt more relaxed. Most of us live in a constant state of being tensed up, tongue slammed against the roof of our mouths, shoulders hunched over a small screen. Yes, it was painful at first, but there was a mental and physical sense of relief almost immediately after.

V-line ear seed kit (original) vs. posture correct ear seed kit (new)

If Ava’s original set felt like a six out of ten on the pain scale, this one was closer to an eight. It’s a very specific kind of discomfort though and it only lasts two or three minutes. As the acupuncturist pressed the seeds in, I could feel tension actively releasing throughout my body. I kept telling myself to go all in. I can take it. I can breathe through it knowing I was essentially resetting my nervous system.

The main difference between the two, beyond the pain level, is what they’re meant for. The original ear seeds are designed primarily to sculpt and shape the face. The posture correct set does that too, but if facial sculpting is your main goal and you want the most intense version of that effect, I’d go with the original. If you’re someone who tends to hunch and constantly has their tongue at the roof of their mouth (I am super guilty of this), you’ll want to go for the posture correct.