Thinking about getting a daith piercing for migraines? Many people are curious about whether it really helps. In this article, we explore the facts so you can make the best decisions for yourself. We explain what a daith piercing is, where it’s located, and what experts say about its potential for relieving migraine attacks.
What is Daith Piercing?
It’s when you get an earring put through the innermost cartilage fold of your outer ear, the Helix crus, right above the opening to your ear canal. This trendy type of piercing is often done in just one ear, but some people get it done in both ears.
Daith Piercing and Migraines
The idea is based on the concept of acupuncture, an ancient practice that uses small needles to help with pain. Although acupuncture has been used in alternative medicine for a long time, let’s see what science says about its effectiveness.
The Science
There haven’t been large scientific studies proving that getting a specific ear piercing helps with migraines, but some studies look promising.
Did you know that there’s a nerve in your body called the vagus nerve, which stretches all the way to your ears, including the daith? Some people believe that getting a specific type of ear piercing called a daith piercing can help reduce migraines by stimulating this nerve. There’s ongoing research into this idea, and some studies suggest that daith piercings might actually help with migraine relief. This is an interesting area of study, and more research is needed to understand it better. Acupuncturists also focus on the daith as a pressure point to help with migraines, but there’s more research on acupuncture itself than on daith piercings for migraines.
Reduced Migraine Frequency in 54-Year-Old Man (Case Study)
One 2017 case study details the difference a daith piercing made in a 54-year-old man.
details the difference a daith piercing made in a 54-year-old man.
He suffered from severe headaches for most of his life and tried several different treatments, including pharmaceuticals, preventative therapies, steroids, and radiofrequency ablation. After each course of treatment, his debilitating headaches eventually returned.
The man decided to get a daith piercing in each ear. Over the next 6 months, his headache frequency decreased from at least 15 headache days per month to 13 headache days in 3 months. The severity also decreased, allowing him to reduce his intake of painkillers even more.
In this case study, researchers acknowledged the results but warned of the possibility of the placebo effect . This is where a person’s belief in a treatment leads them to perceive an improvement in symptoms, at least temporarily.
Why daith and tragus piercings might work for migraines
In 2018, the FDA cleared vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as a treatment for migraines. VNS works by modulating the brain’s headache pathways. Daith and tragus piercings are positioned on pressure points that may help minimize migraine pain as the vagus nerve branches into these areas. It is theorized that piercings in these pressure points can ease migraine pain.
Does It Matter Which Ear I Pierce?
Choosing which ear to pierce is important. They suggest piercing the ear on the side where you usually feel the worst migraine pain. This advice is based on personal stories rather than scientific research. The idea is that piercing this specific area may help ease migraine symptoms by stimulating a nerve called the vagus nerve. Some people even get both ears pierced to see if it helps.
Is Daith Piercing Safe?
Yes, Daith piercing is generally considered safe, but it does involve piercing through cartilage, which carries more risk than piercings to the earlobe. Remember, getting an infection from a cartilage piercing can be really serious and even life-threatening in rare cases. Suppose you have health issues like diabetes, hemophilia, or autoimmune diseases. In that case, it’s usually best to avoid getting a daith piercing because it can make it harder for your body to heal. Plus, there’s no guarantee that a daith piercing will actually help with any health issues, so it’s essential to consider the risks carefully.