I get asked about this at least a few times a week. Sometimes it is the only reason someone books.
So here is what I actually tell people, sitting in my chair, when they ask if the daith piercing helps with migraines.
What a daith piercing is
The daith is the small fold of cartilage right above the opening of your ear canal. The piercing goes through that fold. It usually wears a small ring, and it sits tucked inside the ear, so it is subtle.
For years it was just a pretty piercing. I’ve been piercing professionally for 21 years and since day one people were saying it helped their migraines. I noticed the claim spread fast online, and it has never really gone away.
What my clients tell me
Some of my clients have told me it was the only thing that has ever worked for them. They mean it. You can hear it in how they say it.
And there are clients it does nothing for. Same piercing, same spot, no change.
Nobody can tell you in advance which one you will be. I cannot either.
I want to be clear about what this is. Some clients choose daith piercings after hearing reports from other people. This is not a medical treatment and results are not guaranteed.
For those in pain, I think it’s definitely worth a shot.
What the research says
Not much, and I would rather tell you that than pretend.
There is no proper clinical study on daith piercings and migraines. Doctors call it unproven. What exists is people reporting their own experience, and that is not the same as evidence. However, people tell me with such conviction that I absolutely believe it. I am on team Daith!
Nobody knows why it might work for some people. There are theories about nerves in the ear. None of them are settled.
So if you have migraines, talk to your doctor about them. That is the right place for that conversation. A piercing is not a replacement for it, but for relief, perhaps it’s worth a shot.
What I actually say
I am not an acupuncture therapist and I have no idea how it works, but most people give me positive feedback after seeking migraine relief from a daith piercing. What I hear most is that they don’t necessarily go away, but they tend to be less intense and less frequent, and any kind of relief is better than what they were dealing with. Every so often I have a client return after a year or two and tell me with their fingers crossed while knocking on wood that they have not had a migraine in a year or two! Btw, I have also seen more than one client get the same piercing for lock jaw and immediately had their jaw release, but that’s a story for another post! Look, it is a bit of a gamble. For the people it works for, rolling the dice was worth it. For the people it does not work for, they still have a piercing they like.
So my honest advice is this. Give it a try for relief and also because you like how it looks. If it happens to help, that is a big bonus.
I have never turned anyone away for wanting one because of migraines. If there is a chance it eases something that hard to live with, I am happy to oblige.
The honest downside
- It heals slowly. Like all other cartilage piercings, these take a very long time to heal. You are looking optimistically at a year, and I’ve seen them take over 2 years with complications.
- Tenderness is expected. As with all piercings, this may be very tender to the touch, especially the first few weeks. Sleeping on your side may prove a bit of a challenge at first. The upside is that this piercing is so deep-set, that it is protected from injury and tends not to be as tender during the majority of the healing process.
- It needs proper aftercare. Cartilage piercings are less forgiving than lobes. Consistent care is a commitment during the healing process. I wrote a full aftercare post you can read here.
- It is a real piercing. It should be done with a needle, with implant grade jewelry, in a clean private setting. Never with a piercing gun.
Who it suits
Anyone who wants the piercing anyway. It’s cute! I have mine done. It’s one of my favorite piercings, and I have never suffered from migraines.That is the simple answer.
If you are on the fence or not sure you want any piercings other than your earlobes, such as for professional reasons, just know this is a pretty discrete piercing. Especially when wearing a curved barbell instead of a hoop. This piercing is tucked away behind your tragus and oftentimes overlooked. My own best friend didn’t notice mine for 4 years before she asked when I got them done! Lol
If you would be disappointed to have a daith and no change in your migraines, wait. If you would be happy either way, it is a fun piercing and I would be glad to do it for you.
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Ready when you are
If you have questions, bring them. I would rather answer twenty questions than have you walk in unsure.
My studio is private and one on one. Jewelry is included in the price. Every appointment gets my full attention.