Science Behind Daith Piercing For Migraines

Daith piercings for migraine are becoming more common as a potential tool, but does it actually help? In this article, you’ll learn what daith piercing is, where the piercings are located, and what science says about daith piercing for migraine attacks.

Daith piercing is when an earring is placed through the innermost cartilage fold of your outer ear, the helix crus. Commonly called the daith, it is located just above the opening to your ear canal. Daith piercings are frequently done in just one ear, but can also be done in both ears.

The idea behind daith piercing and migraines is rooted in the practice of acupuncture, which uses tiny needles to stimulate specific nerve endings thought to be related to pain relief. While acupuncture has a long history in alternative medicine, let’s take a look at what the science says about it.

Daith Piercing For Migraine: Does It Really Work?

No large-scale scientific studies have documented daith piercing for migraines as an effective treatment. However, there is some research with encouraging potential.

One of the longest nerves in the body – the vagus nerve – branches throughout the ear, including through the daith. Similar to tragus piercings, daith piercings are purported to stimulate this nerve with the purpose of easing migraines and migraine symptoms.

There is ongoing research into the role vagal stimulation may play in migraine relief. Some research points toward daith piercings as a way to provide that stimulation. So there is enough potential here to warrant more investigation.

Ear Daith Piercing For Migraine Relief: Fact Or Fiction?

Because of this, the daith is often targeted by acupuncturists as a pressure point. However, there is a lot more research on acupuncture itself than on daith piercings for migraines.

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.

Daith Piercings For Migraines: Do They Help And Alternative Treatments

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.

Another study examined a number of alternative treatments for chronic headaches. Researchers opted not to recommend daith piercings as a headache or migraine treatment, due to a lack of scientific evidence.

When getting a daith piercing for migraine, it may matter which ear you choose. However, the reasons for this are anecdotal and not based on scientific research. Many suggest piercing the ear on the side where you feel the most intense migraine pain. This makes sense if you accept the theory that vagus nerve stimulation could help you.

Daith Piercing: Relief From Headaches And Migraines Ebook

Yes, daith piercing is generally considered safe. While most people wouldn’t consider any piercing especially risky, daith piercing involves cartilage. And cartilage piercings do carry more risk than piercings to the earlobe. Potential risks of daith piercing include:

In rare cases, infections in cartilage piercings have led to life threatening conditions like toxic shock syndrome or sepsis. And since you don’t know if daith piercing will work for you unless you try it, you could be taking those risks for little to no benefit.

It should be noted that people with conditions that could compromise healing, such as diabetes, hemophilia, autoimmune diseases, or other conditions are usually advised to avoid a daith piercing.

Daith Piercing For Migraines: Do They Really Help?

With proper care, the piercing could still take several months to heal. If you decide to get a daith piercing, make sure you go to a licensed piercer in a facility you trust, and follow their aftercare advice very closely.

While daith piercings for migraines might have potential as a remedy, more research is definitely needed before a piercing can be classified as a treatment.

If you decide to try it yourself as a “study of one, ” the most important thing is to keep your expectations reasonable and understand the risks.

Daith Piercing Pros And Cons: A Comprehensive Guide

Daith piercings might be helpful for some, but we don’t recommend relying on it for miraculous relief. What we do recommend is a well-rounded mix of scientifically sound remedies, medical treatment, and preventative measures like Axon Optics, powered by Avulux® Migraine and Light Sensitivity Lenses. Migraine is a neurological condition that typically causes painful headaches, usually on just one side of the head. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

These symptoms can interfere with your daily life and, in some cases, last for days. So it’s no surprise that there’s a lot of interest in finding effective treatment options.

Recently, there’s been some speculation that daith piercings can help relieve migraine. But what exactly is a daith piercing and can it help treat or prevent migraine attacks?

Daith Piercings For Migraines

A daith piercing is a piercing of the fold of cartilage that’s just above the entrance to your ear canal. There are currently no research studies to confirm that daith piercings can alleviate migraine pain beyond anecdotal evidence.

The connection between piercing and migraine relief is tied to acupuncture, an ancient Chinese medicine-based approach to treating various conditions by triggering specific points on the body with needles.

Daith piercings for migraine relief gained popularity in the mid-2010s. Supporters of this treatment claimed that the daith piercing activates a pressure point which may help relieve migraine symptoms.

Can The Daith Piercing Help Migraines?

The pressure points in the ear are in very specific locations and would need to be identified by a trained acupuncturist to ensure the piercing was in the right spot. Even then, there’s no scientific evidence that suggests daith piercings are effective in treating migraine symptoms.

, the participant’s migraine symptoms improved after getting a daith piercing. The researchers concluded that more clinical studies are needed to link the procedure to migraine relief.

But the researchers also warned about the risks of daith piercings, and the possibility that symptom relief may be the result of the

Daith Piercing For Migraines: Does It Help With Headaches?

The placebo effect occurs when you undergo an inactive treatment and have fewer symptoms as a result. This is a psychological condition and the benefits of the inactive treatment usually wear off over time.

The researchers concluded that the lack of evidence on the effectiveness of daith piercings for headaches or migraine prevented them from recommending it. The authors of this study grouped other treatments in this category, including reflexology, aromatherapy, and hydrotherapy.

Daith piercings target the fold of cartilage just above your ear canal. All piercings carry some risk, but cartilage piercings are often more risky than earlobe piercings.

Daith Piercing For Migraines: Does It Work And Is It Safe?

Also, the piercing spot is in a very precise location and may be difficult to pierce. It can also be very painful.

If you decide that a daith piercing is worth the risk, look for a licensed piercer to do it for you. Afterwards, be sure to keep the piercing site clean until it heals.

Research has shown that there are a number of other alternative therapies that may help with migraine symptoms. Some may even help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.

Daith Piercings Guide

You measure responses in your body like how tense your muscles are, or other reactions to stress. Then you can learn how to relax, or decrease your reaction to stress, in an effort to relieve migraine symptoms.

There’s no research to date that indicates that daith piercings can help relieve migraine symptoms. This type of piercing can be difficult to do and may result in an infection and other side effects.

If you want to try an alternative therapy to help your migraine attacks, you may want to look into treatments that are supported by research. Some options include acupuncture, auriculotherapy, mindfulness meditation, or biofeedback.

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