Daith Piercing for Migraine: Resources and Updates
Is daith piercing something that you should try as a migraine treatment? Many people are saying yes.
Back in to 2015, a post I wrote criticized articles that touted the benefits of daith piercing, even though they cited little to no evidence. As a result, a huge discussing has started about the benefits and evidence behind daith piercing.
I’m starting off with some of the information shared in the comments on the original post.
- Richard pointed us to a YouTube series about daith piercing for migraine from Tanya Welch. See those here: Daith piercing and migraines
- Danny Buchta, who does piercings, wrote: I have done this piercing for about 50 migraine sufferers in the past two months and all but one have found total relief in the short term and that one still said her migraines have been reduced.
- Natalie Thompson has a Facebook Group (now a closed group) called The Daith Club – for migraineurs
- Stephen Stratton has offered to watch the situation closely: Hi guys , I’m from England and came across this thread when searching for related articles, I am a qualified nurse and have a degree in Health Studies, I am also a Body Piercer, over the past few months I have had an increasing amount of migraine sufferer’s contact me for the Daith Piercing as a possibility that it may reduce the frequency or severity of their migraines, as with many comments in this thread, when all else fails … I am now intrigued by the possibility if any casual link, research is virtually non existent and so I have decided to conduct, hopefully, a study – its very early days yet , through social media I have requested that sufferers contact me for the piercing and I will over the next two years monitor any results, if anyone has any information or suggestions that may help me form a sound study, then please get in touch – thank you – steve (migrainestudy@mail.com)
- This from Amanda: I was a migraine sufferer, constantly having migraines everyday for months at a time. If the weather became cloudy I was hurting. I heard about this piercing and decided a $30 piercing that WAS NOT PERMANENT was well worth the trial after so many meds and hospital visit. It has now been one full month and the only way I can tell when its gonna rain is because of my ankle, not my head any longer. Yes one full month no migraines, it feels amazing to wake up with no pain, I was one willing to try anything…the piercings don’t look too bad and definitely was well worth the $30. If you are suffering and willing to try something that can be undone then by all means try this it helped me
- Emily wrote: Hi! I wanted to write and tell you my personal experience. I get migraine headaches. I was in the emergency room once a week for headaches so debilitating I could not even speak. I got my daith pierced because $40 is less than my copay. I am about four months post piercing and have not suffered a migraine since. I do get headaches occasionally but pulling on the ring and massaging the area helps to calm it down and gets it to go away within minutes…
- This from body art tatoos: I have been doing body piercings for over 23 years, I have recently had a increase in the daith piercing ( migraine piercing ). I have been asking customers to keep me informed on there progress, 8 out of 10 customers after one month claim they still are migraine free, several are local nurses that there doctors suggested for the to try it, and so far has worked on most, most have been women and said the pain is very little, and it is a harder piercing to take care of because that part of the ear collects dirt much more than the rest so keep it clean, we have noticed that you must Pierce the side the migraine starts on, but if your migraine starts in the back or front of the head in the center it’s best to Pierce both sides, last week I pierced both sides of one of my tattoo artist daiths for his migraine and to his surprise his migraine went away on the spot, but since then he has only had one small headache that didn’t require him to take medication , so far so good, but like I said in the being it seems to work only for about 80 percent of people who get it done, 10 percent claims of a decrease in pain and other 10 percent claims did not work for them, good luck to those who choose to try it.
This is a representative list – there were a few who said the piercing didn’t help (in one case made things worse), but in most cases the reports were positive.
Your Turn
If you have a story, positive or negative, please share it. If you are aware of any trials, or any doctors who have been reporting on patients who have had daith piercings, please share that as well.
19 January 2016 @ 3:19 pm
I have tried everything including Botox, nothing worked until I got the daith piercing. It’s been 2 months, I’ve had 8 migraines, but would have had anywhere between 30-50 headaches. I’m beyond thrilled!
9 February 2016 @ 11:30 pm
Do I have to get this from a doctor or can I go to any tattoo/piercing shop?
11 February 2016 @ 12:41 pm
I went to a tattoo parlor. I dont think doctors will have anything to do with it as my family dr knew nothing about it. Make sure they know what they are doing though as not everybody can have this done!! Nor does it work for everybody.
29 March 2016 @ 6:13 pm
Your doctor may recommend this piercing especially if you are a long time sufferer of migraines. However any licensed and trained piercing/tattoo artist can execute the piercing. Both my brother and sister in-law have had daith piercings for migraines and both after having them less than 60 days are extremely pleased with the results of having it done. I hope this helps you!
19 January 2016 @ 5:58 pm
I am 3 weeks post piercing and have only had 1 mild headache since I’ve had the piercing done. I have been suffering with chronic migraines since I was 15. I have tried every medication know and nothing has helped relieve the symptoms of these terrible migraines. When I first heard about daith piercing I was thinking I doubt after everything I have tried and failed that this piercing is gonna help. Considering it was a cheap piercing I figured I would be crazy not to try it. I’m so glad I did!!! Most people claim it’s just a placebo effect and if that’s it then it’s fine with me. When you truly suffer from migraines you don’t care what it’s called as long as it brings relief! Thank God mine has:)
20 January 2016 @ 4:03 pm
Hello! I’ve heard all about the daith piercing for months. I was so skeptical. I’ve literally tried everything; doctor visit after doctor visit. So many medications, therapy, new foods, etc. nothing worked. I get “migraines” of headaches as often as everyday.. For the past 6 months they’ve decreased tremendously. I got a wild hair last Monday January 11th to try this daith piercing everyone is talking about. It is now Jan 20th &’I’ve had horrible headache everyday since then. My neck is in constant pain, as well as the ear I got it done in. Help!! Idk if I should keep it in for a bit longer or take it out right away.
22 January 2016 @ 11:11 am
To Cierra Morlang: Let it heal first before you decide to keep it or not. My relief was immediate. I’ve tried everything, and nothing worked until I got the piercing. Give it a couple months to heal.
26 January 2016 @ 9:23 pm
I have had an ongoing headache since I was 11 and am almost willing to try anything…but I am afraid of needles. Can anyone tell me how bad they hurt? (If they hurt bad.) I would love to find some relief.
29 January 2016 @ 11:39 am
Savannah: it does hurt a little, but what’s worse than a migraine? I’ve had no pain from the piercing after it was done.
20 April 2016 @ 1:16 am
Hello Savanna – I had my daith pierced on Sunday, April 17, 2016. I can tell that when I had my tragus pierced about 15 years ago, It was the most painful. I was told the daith was the most painful. My niece had her daith three days before I did and she has not had a headache for three days. She has had headaches every single day, since she was an young teenager. So that’s when I decided to have mine done (right ear, due to I fall asleep on my left side). So back to the pain, I think it is also who the piercer is and possibly how caring they are. YES It did hurt with the needle. She walked thru the whole procedure, breathing and everything, it was very comforting. Same day it was only sore (felt bruised) when I would clean it. I try really hard not to touch the area unless I’m cleaning the Piercing, to decrease chance of infection. I plan to do my left ear and possibly have her pierce my left tragus, too. good luck to you. It has helped with my headaches.
5 June 2016 @ 9:59 am
It hurt very little in comparison to my Humira shots. This was a dull pain while those medication. Shots burn.
The guy told me to take a deep breath then release slowly and he did it. It hurt a little but honestly not bad.
27 January 2016 @ 12:38 pm
This is a post I made on my FB page on December 26, 2015 after getting the piercing. There has been zero improvement since then. I have had migraines since I was eleven, have not had one single headache free day since 2004, and have been unable to work since 2005.
From my page (there are pics on the page):
“What is this? I’m glad you asked. This is the Daith piercing I got earlier this evening after reading (supposedly) credible reports that this – THIS – is finally THE CURE for migraines. “Immediate relief!” they claim.
I’d been brewing a migraine all week. Well, let me clarify (somewhat) what that means because it has recently come to my attention that people are truly clueless what it means to have a migraine. A migraine is more than a headache. A migraine lasts much longer than the headache. So yes, a person can be having a migraine for days before their head starts hurting. Some migraines don’t even have the headache part. That’s right. They have ALL the other symptoms, but without the head-hurt. Understand? Well, that’s all you’re going to get in a single paragraph tonight.
Anyway, been brewing a headache. Got worse last night then abated this afternoon. We decided to go ahead and get this piercing done. I’ve done crazier things that cost a lot more money on my quest to rid myself of these debilitating headaches. On my left ear, as it was being pierced, there was a warm sensation that was kind of comforting. It quickly faded. The pain rapidly increased in the front of my head before building in the front of my nose, hooking around to my ear and going through the top of my head.
I am hours later now. My entire head hurts. My face hurts. My eyes hurt. It feels like a pain spike is going through my left eye through the back of my head. Pain is radiating down my neck in the front, sides, and back. If these piercings bring immediate relief, it must be to a very small percentage of migraineurs who have very isolated pain that just happens to be relieved by that particular pressure point. Either that or they are having a placebo effect.
I do not recommend this as a remedy or treatment for migraines. In fact, while I used to appreciate that people would think of me when they came across treatments and pass it along with “worth a shot”, I no longer appreciate that. I don’t appreciate it at all. I’m starting to think some sadist comes up with the most ridiculous ideas he/she can think of, sticks them on a meme with a picture of a flower or some crap, and waits for the person stupid enough to try these home remedies then sits back and laughs while the migraineur is hugging a trash can, curled in a fetal position.
People, listen. Some of these herbal remedies can be downright dangerous. Deadly even. The little memes on Facebook might look fun and informative, but they are not. I promise you that it is extraordinarily unlikely that you are the chosen one to find the cure for migraines. I’ve had these for going on 25 years. Wait now. Take a moment to process that. I know you’re chomping at the bit, but 25 years.
Got it?
25 years.
You do not know more about my illness than I do. A Facebook meme, a couple of Googled articles, or the Wikipedia entry on migraines do not carry a cure for migraines. Next time you see a new, amazing miracle cure, just take a moment to chill. Do some research. Start with Snopes. If it comes up “unproven,” feel free to just hang on to it a while before sharing. If it promises “some relief,” also feel free to hang on to it. I promise you I know how to tend to a mild migraine with reasonable success.
This is just my experience, but I definitely cannot recommend getting these piercings for migraines. They *are* kind of cute though, so I will keep them, and *if* in the next couple of weeks by some Daith miracle the migraines go away, I will be the first to not only let you know, but begin a campaign to raise awareness.
This PSA brought to you by pain, misery, and a lot of experience with retarded remedies.”
13 February 2016 @ 11:13 am
SarahAB: I’m sorry it didn’t work for you, it’s not for everybody. I’m one of the fortunate ones that it did work for. I’ve tried everything from 27 botox shots to the head, to acupuncture, chiropractor, beta blockers, herbal remedies, and nothing worked. Imitrex is a temporary fix. I got the piercing really expecting it not to work like the rest. But it has worked. It’s been since November 9th, and I’ve only had 10 mild migraines. I would have had anywhere to between 40-70 by now. I had at least 3-4 thru the week and 1-2 on the weekends. Even if people think it’s all in my head, then so be it, it’s working and that’s all I care about! I really wish it would work for everyone.
7 June 2016 @ 9:00 am
I am sorry you had a bad experience. The pain you described after getting the piercing is the exact pain I suffered every day. When I wasn’t experiencing the excruciating pain I always had a low grade headache. I had both ears done because I got the pain on both sides. I went in with a horrible headache, I left with no pain at all. It has been 3 months with no migraine.
7 June 2016 @ 2:55 pm
Sounds like they put it in the wrong spot.
It should be on a pressure point.
11 July 2016 @ 3:17 pm
Hi Sarah Ab as you said though you are the small percentage that it hasn’t worked on, so why wouldn’t you want others to try it?, if it could work for them?
It was the best thing I ever did. I was so sick of my headaches and migraines. I was sick of taking nurofen. It was an instant relief for me. 8 weeks later I feel so free. When getting it done make sure the piercer has been trained to know the exact pressure point. I still get the slight headache on the side that I haven’t got the piercing, but I just pinch the spot in my ear and the headache goes away. I am also a massuese and have taught people this. Its been a savior for many. I would definitely think of getting the other one done if my headaches on the side start getting bad.
10 February 2017 @ 3:50 am
Sarah; As everyone else is stating, we are sorry that after 25 years you have not been able to find some relief for your migraines. Quite honestly, I think that by now you would have found at least one medical practitioner who could have identified your misery; it seems that if your pain is as debilitating as you state, maybe your case is beyond just a migraine. Not being able to work since 2005 would make most people go to the ends of the earth to find relief. However, it is not fair for you to “warn” the rest of the world against this option like we are all lemmings following senseless posts on facebook (which I, for one, do not use). You have no frame of reference as to whether your migraines are worse than any of the rest of us, so your “People, listen” comment, in my humble opinion, is not the condescending attitude the rest of us need to hear. We get it; you have migraines; you “can’t work. Figure it out.
I did months of research on daith piercings before having mine done, after 28 years of weekly migraines, and truly did experience immediate relief, and have not had a single one since. Having the pain you so graphically mention just after having a simple piercings seems to be out of the ordinary and quite melodramatic. My piercing was literally pain free and I rarely see that anyone else here complains of such intense pain. Let us revel in our joy!
28 January 2016 @ 12:32 pm
Anyone with NDPH have anything to share?
28 January 2016 @ 8:54 pm
I got mine done a few weeks ago and have been headache free! I got mine on the left because thats the side my mirgraines started on. I spent $30 and it was worth it.
9 February 2016 @ 11:34 pm
Did you go to a doctor or a tattoo/piercing parlor
22 February 2016 @ 8:50 pm
I’m so sorry I didnt reply sooner. I went to a tattoo shop in my area that I heard knew about the piercing and had clients that successfully got it done.
22 February 2016 @ 8:48 pm
Okay so after several weeks pain free, I got a headache today. 🙁 but I’m holding out hope because I had a really hard emotional day, didnt eat well or drink much today. I was most likely dehydrated and hungery. After eating a good meal and drinking tea the headache has become mild.
But I went from terrible mirgraines all the time to none for 2 months. I will update if I get anymore headaches.
1 February 2016 @ 11:23 pm
I am a chronic migraine sufferer. I already get botox treatment, which reduced my migraines monthly by half , but I still have several each month and an almost daily battle with tension headaches.
I had a daith piercing done two months ago ( I figured if it works fantastic, if it doesn’t at worst I am left with a cool new piercing).
While my headaches are not completely gone I have had record amounts of days completely headache free. I have seen headache free weeks which hasn’t happened in at least ten years or more.
So, here’s one for the “research”. It helped me absolutely!
7 February 2016 @ 8:04 am
I have had migraines most of my adult life. Preventatives were successful so when I started menopause I stopped. Mine were believed to be hormonal and weather triggered. I went a year with only a few “mild” migraines but I have just missed a week of work due to a horrible migraine. Nothing was working so I finally decided piercing the Daith was the only option. I had it done and after determining what was piercing pain and not headache I saw relief. The next day I was 50% better and now my headache is gone as well as all the other lovely migraine effects. Don’t know why or if it’s all due to the piercing but I will take it!!! I had my left side done and thinking about doing the other side since my headaches didn’t have a particular side they started on. If it doesn’t work… Take it out. 30.00 is worth the chance in my book. Good luck!!!
7 February 2016 @ 8:44 am
Have had horrible headaches far longer than I can remember. Worst one was a few years back and lasted 31 days….yes…you read that right! 31 days!!!! I work in an office and would work with lights out, computer screen as dim as it would go and wear sunglasses. My friends started posting about the daith peirding on my Facebook page. I started researching it and on Jan 2, 2016 I got both ears done. I have not had a migraine since. I had onen brewing when I got them done and it was gone instantly!!! Absolutely the best money I have ever spent!! Wish I had known about this year’s ago. Would have have saved me a lot of pain and suffering along with putting meds in body and tons of money. Yes, I still get sinus headaches (I have sinus issues) but they go away easily. If you don’t have a problem with having the peircing I recommend it. However, I was told that it MUST go thru cartridge. Feeling blessed that it worked for me!!!!
11 February 2016 @ 6:50 am
Hi, I really like reading your comments. I have been going back and forth with this piercing for almost a year. I have gotten migraines since I was 2, I had a migraine induced stroke in my early 20’s. I have been through every medication and treatment known with really no relief. I tried acupuncture a while back and had a pretty bad reaction to it. The physician said I might have had to much in one session, so I gave it another try but the reaction was the same, I was vomiting, dizzy, and could barely get up. I’m worried I would have the same reaction to the piercing but I really want to believe this would work for me. Thoughts???
21 February 2016 @ 4:45 pm
It didnt work for my friend who as cluster attacks. But it worked for me. My thoughts were its 30.00… if it doesnt work i can take it out.. try it. Fingers crossed for you x
21 February 2016 @ 4:41 pm
I have suffered with migraines since i was 15. I am now 42. I could never predict when it would start or end. Lights effected me cheap fizzy pop and some garlic kievs! And the weather! Chocolate my periods didnt effect me. I used to get tingling in fingers arm and then tunnel vision then pain above my eyes. Then the ache.. pain… headache from Hell. Couldnt look at lights but would be hungry?
I had had about 5 migraines in about 2 weeks and had enough. I thought if it doesnt work i can take it out…. 3 weeks later and NO migraines at all. I have even been ill with tonsillis and didnt get an headache. I am not saying i am cured but 3 weeks is good for me.
24 March 2016 @ 10:49 pm
Hi all, just wondering if any of those migraine sufferers who have had relief had Basilar type migraines. I’ve had this type of migraine for 10 yrs now with 5 out of 7 days with dizzyness & spinning. Sometimes I can go for 2 weeks without relief. Sleeping half the days away & prevent me from driving or doing my normal activities. Fortunately Botox does work to block the pain, but my main concern is the dizzyness & spinning & occasional blacking out. Will the daith piercing help in this regarard??
Looking forward to feedback
25 March 2016 @ 11:26 am
I say try it. It has helped me and I pray it helps you too. With that much of your life missing (from being dizzy and in bed) I say try it and see if you can spend more life awake and happy.
14 July 2016 @ 1:28 pm
Try this, it works for spinning. You may have to do it a few times. I used to get the spinning and this stopped it “Epley Maneuver”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZgUx9G0uEs ~Blessings
5 April 2016 @ 2:31 am
I’ve had migraines for 25 years and I’m a long time member of an IRL migraine support group where I’ve met many, many other long-time sufferers. Every so often the assembled group will discuss all the wacky things people have tried for their migraines, from having all of their silver fillings replaced w/ white fillings, to drinking two gallons of water a day, to traveling to the equator, to… yeah you guessed it, body piercings!
Needless to say, none of these folk remedies work IN THE LONG TERM. Sure, you may get a period of reduced or even no migraines lasting a few weeks. Those claiming that daith piercing has made a difference? Your migraines will be back. How do I know? From the scores and scores of reports I’ve heard of these type of folk remedies. It’s placebo effect, which is far, far more powerful than people ever understand. But there’s a problem. It doesn’t last. Placebo is great. It’s real relief. But it runs out of gas. If you have a real medical condition, (like migraine), you can’t disappear it w/ quackery. You can protest all you want, but instead, wait one year after your piercing, then come back and post.
Why do you think there’s no scientific evidence to support this? No clinical evidence? Never been a clinical trial showing any positive effect? No viable explanation? If you’re in such a hurry to throw away $30, send it to me and I’ll send you a certificate saying, “YOUR MIGRAINES ARE CURED”. I guarantee it works. GUARANTEE IT. Ever seen the Wizard of Oz?
Just to be clear: I have no bias in favor of western medicine. Clinical trials can demonstrate the efficacy of anything: accupuncture, herbal remedies, body work, it doesn’t matter what the modality is. But if there’s no clinical evidence at all you are not taking care of yourself. The cost has nothing to do w/ it. The constant disappointment will wear you down after the decades. You have to be a smart advocate for your healthcare — no one else is going to advocate for you. But there are many people who will sell you a bill of goods, even a cheap bill of goods. Again, if that $30 is just burning a hole in your pocket and you have an endless tolerance for disappointment, send for my certificate. At least there’s no risk of infection.
9 April 2016 @ 9:30 pm
I have had both of my daith percings for over 10 years, just because I thought they looked cool when I was a teenager. I’ve been getting migraines regularly for 16 years, so I can’t say I’ve noticed any difference at all.
19 April 2016 @ 10:13 am
I don’t usually respond to these things but this one is important. I couldn’t remember a time when I didn’t have a headache. They were usually low grade but always constant. The migraines came and went from one or two a month to two or three a week. Light sensitivity, throwing up every time I moved, not able to hold anything down and I simply wanted to die! I tried acupuncture, acupressure, gluten free and every other diet associated with the possible cause of headaches. I was to the point of getting steroid shots on both sides of my head every three months and a nerve block shot every month. They didn’t make the headaches go away, but at least my head stayed numb for about 6 hours each time and even that relief was welcome. But it was getting to the point where the shots themselves were getting more and more painful. When I heard about this piercing I jumped at the chance that it might help. It has been one and a half months without a migraine. My head is still trying to hurt but about the time that I realize I have a headache, it is gone! I think that my head is so use to hurting that it is really fighting to continue to hurt. But my ears are prevailing and as time goes on I am having more and more days (not just hours) of no pain at all. Take it from a former migraine headache sufferer, this piercing has worked for me and truly is a God send. The gal that did the piercing, Pam’s Body Art and Piercing in Craig, CO), is truly an angel ! As I have been reading, what do you have to lose? If it does not work, take the earring out and go about your life trying to find something that will work for you. Good luck to every one and God Bless.
19 April 2016 @ 10:18 pm
I get bad tension headaches, migraines, and occipital nerve headaches on my right side. And I was in a car wreck in February and now I’m also battling post concussion headaches. I was considering getting this done. It’s cute first off, and it’s much cheaper than my meds and nerve blocks. I used to work for a tattoo parlor but my boss retired but I know of some reputable shops I’ve gone to before for other piercings and tats. Thoughts on a daith for my situation ?
7 June 2016 @ 3:00 pm
The best thing I ever did. I paid 40.00. I went to “off ya tree”. Those companies had training in the daith. This is my 3rd week and I am loving it. 😃😃
21 April 2016 @ 11:37 am
I’ve been suffering from migraines for around 4 years now, after countless different medications, preventers, when I found myself in hospital this February I knew I had to try anything. I was desperate.
This led me to getting my daith piercing, I can honestly say I did think it was a miracle, for around 2 weeks. I have now gone back to my daily migraines, if not every other day.
16 May 2016 @ 8:58 pm
Well I have not read all the comments but I will say from my own experience.
I have been sufferering over. 25 years. Tried every pill imagnable. Lost my job. And am now on disability. Botox made me sick as hell. And with insurance it was 300. So I paid the 40 and got it done. So far what I have noticed is the migraine headaches went to the other side. I will pierce it too. I will let you know what happens. 🙂
18 May 2016 @ 11:41 am
So happy to hear your good news!
26 May 2016 @ 6:49 am
I suffered with migraines for most of my adult life and was managing them with beta blockers. Inexplicably, my migraines stopped immediately following the birth of my youngest child. (I must have popped something back into place pushing her out! 😂). I can’t describe just how bad these migraines were. I was hospitalised on a regular basis and have had more lumbar punctures than most! Imagine my sadness when my 12 year old daughter started suffering with them. She would have severe visual disturbances about 15 mins before the pain hit and would be bedridden and vomitting for hours. My niece was also a severe migraine sufferer. You may see that writing in past tense. Both got daith piercings and both have not had a migraine since! It is important to note that the piercing should be done on the side of the head were migraines usually occur. It’s been 6 months since they got their piercings and so far so good. They both got at least two migraines per month prior to piercings. Definitely worth a try in my opinion. 🙌
1 June 2016 @ 7:40 pm
I’m so happy to hear this! Much better than them suffering or going on terrible medicines that may or may not work. And so much safer.
29 May 2016 @ 5:56 pm
I have only had this piercing for nearly 2 weeks. I would normally get headaches on Fridays after doing up to 13 massages in a day. Since getting the daith, no headaches and no stress. Its only early days, but so far I am loving this. The healing part so far has been easy. Twice a day with the spray and once a day with a warm normal saline compress. Wish I had have done this sooner. 40.00 was a life saver. So far
8 June 2016 @ 5:52 pm
I suffered from migraines every single day. I was lucky if I had a day of peace. I had tried everything and went through THREE neurologists, nobody knew what was happening or why. I was at the end of my rope… I hated to even open my eyes every morning because I knew what came next. I heard from a few different people about the daith piercing and so I did my research. I decided anything was worth a try! I figured even if it didn’t work, I’d have a pretty cool piercing.
Three and a half months afterwards and I haven’t had a single migraine. A couple headaches, but honestly nothing like before!! All I did was tap on the place where the ring is under the skin and headache was gone. Just like that. The BEST $40 I have ever spent!!! I would swear by this method a hundred times over! I’ve already recommended it to some friends and now I’m recommending it to ANYONE who doesn’t believe. IT WORKS!! 🙌ðŸ»
25 June 2016 @ 5:13 pm
Hello, thank you for encouraging actual research into this topic. While I am not a qualified professional, I would just like to add my experience which I journaled in detail here: http://sweeptight.com/2016/03/ear-piercing-for-migraines-results.html
It has now been 4 months since my daith piercing and I haven’t had one headache. I only get other migraine symptoms (light sensitivity, aura) about once or twice a month.
27 June 2016 @ 11:49 pm
this has been truly amazing for me. this is the 6th week. Oh my gosh I wish I had have done this a lot sooner. No headaches and no migraines. Best thing I ever did.
10 July 2016 @ 3:52 am
I suffer with CFS fibromyalgia with severe migraines and cluster migraines .
I had my daith peicing yesterday and I felt my migraine just pop away it was the most awesome feeling .
I still have a niggle of a headache on the opposite side of my head to the peicing so find it interesting that I may need the other ear done as well.
I am amazed at the result so far .
11 July 2016 @ 3:01 pm
Its been 8 weeks today for me. Wow time has gone fast. I still get the odd and very slight headache on the opposite side of my head to where I had my daith. But all I do is pinch the same pressure point on the opposite side. It hurts but it works straight away. No migraines and no full on headaches this has been a miracle. The best thing ever.
13 July 2016 @ 8:32 am
After all the praise I have read I am going to have the piercing done. I just have to find a piercing artist I can trust. I live in a small town and the ones here don’t always have the greatest reparations. People have been know to get hepatitis and other things. So I get my Dr. to check them out. But I will have it done. janetcranor@icloud.com
13 July 2016 @ 8:41 am
I plan to have the piercing done. My 1 problem is that I live in a small town and the ones that do the piercing are not the highest ranking in
clean, we have know of hepatitis and other thing. But I am going to check with my Dr. to find out who is the best. Wish me good luck.
janetcranor@icloud.com
20 July 2016 @ 4:28 pm
Hi, I have suffered from migraine since I was 7 years old. I remember going with my Mom to see my general practitioner, laying on the exam table with the lights off as the nurse gave me a shot of Demerol to help the pain. That was the first time of hundreds that I found myself in the same place, same debilitating pain, same throwing up for hours on end. Fast forward 35 years, after trying literally EVERY possible medication (off label or on), EVERY possible treatment (from crazy diets to Acupressure, Acupuncture, cupping, hypnosis, and every other possible technique from California, India, China, Thailand, Europe, and everywhere in between), nothing has helped my migraines. For the last five years I have been suffering with a new migraine starting every third day and lasting for two days. So basically I get one migraine free day out of three. Once or twice a month I would find myself in the ER for a shot of whatever Narcotic the Doctor would give me to finally get some relief. Unfortunately, with the evidence of “rebound” headaches from Narcotics… many ER Doctors will no longer give them but instead try the Toradol/Benadryl/Zofran combo which does NOTHING for my migraines… so I end up back at home not able to enjoy my beautiful children or amazing supportive husband because I am in a dark room sobbing because of the pain.
I had heard of the possibilities of people getting any relief from the Daith piercing and I was all over it. I had my piercing done a little over 4 weeks ago and I kid you not this has been the first time since I was 7 years old that I have gone so long without a migraine!!! I am not going to lie to you and tell you it has taken them away completely… it hasn’t. However, in the last month I have only had 2 migraines and both were controlled with my normal medication. They lasted about a day each… but that was it!!!
I honestly don’t know if it is the piercing or not… but I don’t really care. I just know that I have had relief that I had NEVER had before with any medication or treatment.
The other thing… even if it only reduced my headaches by one migraine per month or even per year… I would still do it! One day without a headache is worth a poke in my ear…
20 July 2016 @ 6:50 pm
Rhonda I’m to happy to hear you have found some relief!
20 July 2016 @ 4:58 pm
Suffered for 15 years with cluster migrains having an average of 9 every 12 hours. Went from doctor to doctor and tried everything including 2 operations to my head but nothing worked. Went to see a chines herbal doctor and he reccomended doing the daith and tragus piercings in both ears. He said I would have a 92% reduction in migrains. I had it done at once and guess what I have gone from 3 morphine injections a week to 1 a month. All I do is turn the rings for about 90 seconds when I feel an attack coming on and it goes away. The attacks have also gone from 9 per day to 1 every 3 days . This really work,s for me
31 July 2016 @ 12:38 am
mike, I just was diagnosed with cluster headaches. I have been suffering for years and considering getting the daith piercing. I’m just scared it would make matters worse and you know it is already bad enough.
4 August 2016 @ 4:15 pm
Brittany with what I know today all I can say to you is go for it. have the 4 studs put in you will not be sorry. The china man that I saw gave me a 92% chance of 80% reduction 4% chance of reduction in pain only and 4% chance of it getting worse than it is but then all you do is remove the studs and in 6 to 8 weeks you will be back to where you were. He claims that the daith is for the front of the head migrains and the tragus works from in front of the ear to the rear of the head. Any questions just ask and I will see if I can get answers for you. And go for the studs IT WORKS.
2 August 2016 @ 9:16 pm
I’ve had mine for more than a month, and I barely need my medication anymore! I’ve had some sinus headaches that pair up with jaw pain and used it for those, but once this crazy allergy season is over I’ll probably be fine 😀 I love my piercing!
11 August 2016 @ 1:55 pm
I have just heard about this. This king of trying it out. Is there any indication about any harm that this piercing can cause?
24 September 2016 @ 11:20 am
Like many of you I am a migraine sufferer and am from the UK, I have some prescribed medication from my Dr that I take when I get a migraine attack which work well but do have side effects. I need to take this medication about 3 times a month normally and also take ibuprofen or paracetamol in between time when having a ‘normal’ headache. I read about the daith piercing and decided to have it done in my left ear 8 weeks ago. I have since not had to take any prescribed medication and ibuprofen only about three times in 8 weeks. I still get the odd ‘low level’ headache that feels a bit like it might be the start of a migraine and I sometimes wake up with that but it clears either by itself quite quickly or with one 400mg ibuprofen after about an hour. The piercing was quite sore to put in and is still a little tender to touch but doesn’t hurt unless I play with it! I had it done a a reputable tattoo and piercing shop locally and am really pleased with the result so far. I’m not really bothered about why or how it works I’m just glad for the relief as migraines are a very unpleasant affliction to live with and poorly recognised and understood. I am however interested to note that those of you in the USA seem to take a lot more medication than us and I do wonder if that is part of the problem rather than the cure as there is good evidence that some pain relief mess make headaches worse when taken regularly and some of you might want to look into that as well as other alternative treatments.
3 October 2016 @ 3:19 am
I have tried everything for debilitating headaches, Bowen therapy, chiropractic, nutritional, Homeopathy, acupuncture, spiritual healing, kinesiologist, eft, binaural beats, pain meds, crystals, counseling.. nothing even touched the.
On sept 4th this year I got the Daith piercing, on a whim, didn’t believe it would work, but was desperate. I had a headache when I got pierced, within an hour it was gone. I haven’t had a headache since, it’s over 4 weeks. I have felt the beginnings of a headache, but it passes. I am beyond delighted..
3 October 2016 @ 1:56 pm
I have had my piercing for months now. It’s been such a relief. I get the odd slight headache on the side that I haven’t got the piercing,.but not every couple of days like I used to, and no where near as painful. I’m thinking of getting the other side done. Think I have had 3 aspro all up since getting it done. Compared to the boxes of nurofe I used to go through.
I massaged a lady the other day who suffers badly with migraines almost every day. Her and her friend went and got the Daith that night, after I told her about these comments and my Daith. I spoke to her the Monday after and And she couldn’t believe the difference. She said her and her friend have not had any headaches or migraines since. She said she could not thank me enough. I tell all my customers.
More should be done for people that don’t know about this. Rather than having to take tablets constantly.
This has been my savior, can’t wait to get the other side done.
18 October 2016 @ 12:13 pm
Usually acupuncture takes up a lot of internal energy. It sounds strange but the reactions are real, vomiting dizziness fatigue. It can be from too much at once. The big thing you need to remember is to eat before going in. Not a snack… But a meal. Your body needs the food energy.
22 October 2016 @ 12:03 pm
Hi there, I haven’t gotten a daith get but I am definitely considering it. I get headaches a lot and they can spiral into a migraine quickly if not taken care of. I have been reading about this a lot and spoken with many co-workers who have this piercing and I have only heard positive things about it. In one article I read it seems to do with Chinese acupunture and pressure points within the ear to relieve pain so I figure itsit’s cheaper to get the piercing than acupuncture, right?
1 January 2017 @ 5:20 am
I got the piercing done almost two months ago. Before I got the piercing done I got constant headaches. I’d go for days cooped up in my room with intense migraines. When I was younger I visited numerous doctors including cardiologists, neurologists, and many more. By the time I was 12 I’d seen doctor after doctor and even had a surgery done in my throats that was supposed to help called a partial Glossectomy. I was on medication that made me completely out of it and to the point I couldn’t walk a straight line. Before the piercing I had a migraine everyday for a little over two weeks. I reaserched and found most said it worked so I thought why not. Even if it doesn’t help a) I will try anything and b) it’s cute either way. The piercing hurt, but instantly, I felt soooo much pressure release form the back of my head. Since I got the piercing done I haven’t had a single migraine. The most I’ve gotten is a couple of small headaches that went away after a little ibuprofen. I am very happy with results and would definitely recommend it to anyone willing to consider it for help with migraines.
11 January 2017 @ 5:09 am
I have suffered 2-3 debilitating migraines for over 20 years. My daughter paid $25 for my daith piercing at the Womans Conference in LA last October; as of early January, I have not had one migraine….or even any kind of headache at all. This small investment has made a huge difference in my quality of life. PS: I actually had the beginning of a migraine at the Conference while waiting to get my piercing; by the time I walked out of the booth, I was already experiencing relief!
11 January 2017 @ 1:57 pm
I am in the same situation and would love to hear if anyone else in our situation has had success!! Acupuncture triggers migraines for me, so I’m wondering if this would make things worse.
12 January 2017 @ 4:52 am
I got my daith piercing a year ago at christmas, and I no longer have migraines that make me vomit. They are far more managable with my medications now then ever before. And I have not had to give myself a shot in months. Which to me is a win, $15 for piercing the same cost as Dr copay and the amount I have saved in not having to buy my shots and less medications refills, is an even bigger win. Well worth it !
24 January 2017 @ 5:27 pm
I have had the daith piercing since about May? I forgot all about this site, until I get emails stating that someone has commented on it.
I ended up getting both left and right.
No more migraines. The odd headache every now and again. But nothing a couple of aspro won’t fix. I am off the heavy tablets no more Panadeine Forte and no more nurofen.
I don’t understand all the amazing comments. Yet it’s still not enough for people to think it actually works?
It truly is amazing. Best thing I ever did.
25 January 2017 @ 8:46 am
This is in response to the person who was wondering about daith versus accupuncture. I tried accupuncture several times throughout the years. It did not help. I have had my piercing in both ears since April 2016. i have not had a migraine since. I do get the start of a headache but reach up and tug gently on the earring and the pain goes away. That being said, my left side has always been the worst & last month the top pf the earring pulled out of the hole causing a small tear with the top part of the earring coming out. I can’t get it repierced for a couple more months. The results of not having the constant pressure has been interesting. My head on the left side has periods of throbbing. I mean my head is pounding but there is no pain. (If you have to have a headache the is the way to go)! I also have been waking up with a severe headache a couple times a week. I reach up and pinch my ear where the earring was and the headache goes away. I think this is because I don’t have the constant pressure that the earring provides. I am sleeping and don’t know that a headache is coming so can’t pinch my ear. I am living proof that daith works! For those who have not gotten any relief with this procedure, I am truly sorry because I know what going through this kind of pain feels like. I sincerely hope there is something out there that can finally help you. That is my prayer for you. If you haven’t tried this procedure yet, you have nothing to lose. If it doesn’t work, simply remove the earring. My prayers go out to all migraine sufferers. Good luck with whatever remedy you try.
1 May 2017 @ 6:45 pm
I had tried acupuncture for almost 2 years too. Sometimes it seemed to help, other times it actually made the headaches worse. My headaches lasted up to 5 days. I tried botox for migraines (got a 3.5 week headache from it), neural ablation, acupuncture, occipital nerve blocks, steroid injections, decompression, massage, etc.. NOTHING LASTED or worked more than temporarily.
This has worked for me. I chose niobium captive bead rings (3/8″ so small) and they are doing the trick.
29 January 2017 @ 2:37 pm
Hi.I had a closed head injury in 1987. I had headaches up until 2000,the headaches turned into migraines and I have had migraines about 18 times a month. They have been getting worse and my Neurologist sugessted Botox. This scares me. I looked into the Daith piercing and this seems like a better idea. Would any of you suggest it?
1 May 2017 @ 6:42 pm
YES. It’s worked for me. 4 weeks from today I had both pierced and NO BAD HEADACHES SINCE. I have woken up a couple times with the feeling that one is coming.. taken a shower, moved the earrings in the shower (while cleaning piercings) and the headache beginning disappears. I cannot be more happy. It’s worth it in my opinion.
31 January 2017 @ 4:34 pm
I had mine done at the LA Womans Fair last October at my daughters suggestion. I also had a head injury about 10 years ago, but have had 3-5 migraines a month for over 20 years. Medication only made me worse. My piercing took all of 2 seconds, was painless and I have not had one migraine since then. The piercer put a bit of numbing solution on my ear, and I felt only a bit of pressure; no pain or any side effects at all!
1 February 2017 @ 3:12 pm
First I would like to say…my prayers are with you all whom have suffered with migraines they are truly horrible. I am 44 years old and I have suffered with migraines since I was in high school. I’ve been on so many medications and seen so many doctors it just really gets old. This past year my headaches were becoming more frequent and more intense usually ending up in the hospital. I had heard about the daith piercing some time ago but was skeptical. I ran into a lady one day who saw me buying migraine meds and she told me about her daith piercing and how she was no longer experiencing the headaches as before. At this point I was ready to try I mean after all if it doesn’t work I’ll still have a cool piercing. I forgot to mention that I woke up with a headache every morning and never slept well at night. Ok so I got the daith piercing 2 weeks ago…haven’t woke up with any headaches or had a migraine as of yet, and I also have slept more in two weeks then I have in two months. Sure this may not last and I’m sure it doesn’t work for everyone but I would recommend it to anyone with migraines…so yes it’s working for me.
1 February 2017 @ 6:33 pm
To Pamela Hayes: I got my daith done after having a headache for 2 weeks straight and when I got it pierced it went away immediately and I haven’t had one since.
10 April 2017 @ 11:43 pm
I have had cervicogenic headaches that last up to 5 days at a time for more than 5 years now. They are a result of being rear-ended in an auto accident. I have tried every treatment known to man… acupuncture, traction, nerve blocks, neural ablation, chiropractic, manipulation, botox for migraines, trigger point injections, pain meds, etc. Nothing has lasted. I found this site and thought I’d try the daith piercing. I got both sides (go big or go home) last week. Exactly a week ago… So far, so good. I have had what felt like the beginning of the bad headaches but they stop there.. Neck pain always precipitates my bad headaches and I’ve had the neck pain, but not the headaches. I am cautiously optimistic! I couldn’t decide which side to pierce (the one the headaches start on or the one they don’t?)… so that’s why I did both. It cost me about $84 plus tip and after piercing care products but if it works long term, it will change my life for the better. Thanks for all of your input and good luck. I had a professional piercer do it at a tattoo/piercing shop. When I told him what I wanted it for, he said he gets about 3-4 inquiries about this piercing for headaches every day. When I questioned him about how to find the “perfect spot” to pierce, he said he was going to do the spot that he was professionally trained to pierce for the daith piercing. It didn’t hurt too badly, maybe a few seconds of discomfort. Then no pain since. I am using naked soap and H2Ocean spray for aftercare. What have you got to lose?
28 April 2017 @ 8:27 am
I was a major skeptic of the daith piercings because my sister got them and she’s into all sorts of odd alternative healing stuff. I went with my mom to a local tattoo shop to get her tattoo touched up and casually asked how much the piercings would cost.
To my surprise my mom offered to pay for them and I though why not? I like piercings and this is one I could enjoy without being looked at funny by employers and it was free. Plus my insurance stopped covering my Treximet so it couldn’t hurt to try.
As background- I’ve had migraines since 14, no nausea but the kind that light make you want to hide and scream. I’ve tried everything from barbiturates to anti seizure meds with little success. I had a mild migraine that morning and was worried getting it pierced would make it worse but I tried it anyway.
As soon as the left side needle went in the migraine stopped on that side. I don’t really know how to define it because I’m a science geek and very big on the “show me the studies” side but the pain just stopped. When she did the other side the whole migraine was gone. It was as if someone had lifted the blanket of pain off me. I still felt the tension in my neck from sleeping wrong but no headache.
It’s been about a month and I still haven’t had a migraine. I’ve had two small headaches- one caused by playing Video games for 12 hours straight and another right now caused by a severe sinus infection but it’s not the crippling pain of a migraine. Just a dull throb, almost muted. I’ve woken up many mornings with my neck hurting in a way that should have triggered a migraine but it hasn’t. It’s very weird. I’d love to see studies on why this worked for me.
As a side note, I have a messed up nerve in my back from a botched epidural and the week prior to the piercing had been having sciatica pain so bad I could hardly walk. After the piercing I haven’t had nearly as bad of back pain and no sciatica pain. I’m curious as to if the piercing is simply blocking a pain response center of nerves that causes the body to “mute” pain?
Either way I can’t recommend this piercing enough. It’s simple and discreet and has changed my daily life. As a science based person I know when to accept results as true and work backward from there to understand it. Here’s hoping the scientific community pays attention to this and can discover why it works.
8 May 2017 @ 10:11 am
I had my first migraine 40 yrs ago when I was just 6 years old. Since then I have had migraines 2-3 times a week and chronic headaches every single day. I have tried every medication from migraine meds to strong pain relievers that would leave me in a stupor. I have tried many different treatments from biofeedback to hypnosis. Nothing helped and I had to learn to “live with it”. Three months ago I decided to try the daith piercing. I thought “why not?”, I have tried everything else. I had it done on a Saturday. Sunday morning I woke up without a headache for the first time in 40 years. It was unbelievable. I felt like a different person. In the last three months I have had about three headaches total. No migraines! I would happily recommend it to anyone. If it doesn’t work, you tried. If it does work, you will be a whole new person. (My piercing cost $40 and I got it done in a tattoo shop.)
10 May 2017 @ 7:10 pm
I’m 61, and have fought migraines for over 40 years. About the only thing I haven’t tried is botox, and I won’t try that. When one of the side effects of a treatment is death, I stay away! I had piercings done in both ears, and have gotten probably more relief on a constant basis than from anything else I’ve tried. Are the migraines gone? No. When one suffers from chronic migraine, though, and can actually go without migraine meds even half the time – I consider that a big improvement! Everyone is different. Just like everything else, I’m sure this works for some, and not for others, but I think it is well worth trying. It’s not that expensive compared to other treatments. Just make sure you find a reputable piercer who knows how to do this, and ask questions!
20 August 2017 @ 12:44 am
Just got my daith piercing 6hrs ago and been migraines free since. I will be getting my other side done after this one heals! I’ve dealt with migraines since January of 2006.
28 August 2017 @ 11:39 am
I got my daith a year ago , I still got headaches but the severity and duration were greatly reduced. Four days ago, I took my piercing out to change it and couldn’t get it back in. Within an hour I had a migraine and it lasted four days. Finally I got the earring back in and the next morning my migraine was gone. I’m sure a believer!
26 February 2018 @ 9:46 am
It’s been 3 month since my Daith piercing. I’ve had a few mild headaches and one minor migraine since. I decided to get the Daith piercing because I’ve had migraines my entire life with periods of constant migraine lasting over a year (with varying intensity). I thought I had my migraines under control by getting them down to one per week by strict diet, exercise, and aggressively treating medically at onset. This worked really well except sometimes I would miss taking my medication on time (was sleeping, driving, somewhere without medicine…). I got tired, depressed, and finally the migraines kept coming no matter how aggressively I fought them. After 3 month of daily migraines (again treating aggressively) I said I was ready. I was so ready I decided to get both piercing at the same time. I found a tattoo parlor that was highly recommended and very clean. I absolutely loved the guy that did the piercing and I’ve never had a piercing or tattoo in my life. I decided to get both done at the same time. Get it over with, right? Anyway if it was too painful I simply would not do the second one. So the first one went in. A bit of pressure. Almost no pain at all. I asked “is that it?” Yep! So we did the second side… Let me just tell you I went through three stages of hell in one second. I had warm blood running down into my ear. They guy was very gentle and quickly finished with the jewelry. That ear remained very painful for a while. He took me through the maintenance process and I went home. Cleaned everything as instructed. Weirdly enough that day I did not have a migraine (it was early in the day so who knows) plus not one migraine for the next month (only some mild discomfort that never even turned into a headache). But knowing what I know now, I would have gone through all 7 levels of hell to have this kind of pain free living. I now know that if my migraines come back I’m going to ask for a second piercing in both ears. I have no idea if a second would make any difference, but that brief pain (about a month to heal to pain free) is totally worth the time I had without a migraine. And even the one migraine I did have was so mild I was able to continue to function almost normally through it.
23 April 2018 @ 3:26 pm
I have read both articles. I got the piercing Friday, I have had it now for 3 days or so. I have had migraines for the last 15 years. The longest one lasting 2+ months. I also have epilepsy and they think mine are so severe because of the damage my brain has had from the seizures. I work with computers that have pre-2000 monitors and bad lighting. My seizures and migraines have gotten severe. I had to do something before my next shift or I would have quit.
I bit the bullet and got a daith piercing in my left ear. 3 days out and while not totally gone they are reduced 90% easy in severity. I can take Excedrin to get rid of what’s not gone. Normally I get a pain for a few min and its gone. This is a Win! I do see where it can cause migraines, due to the pain that radiates, but it goes away. If your caring for it properly than it should be rather short lived. Like I said this is so much better than not.
Oh and it was $48 because I chose a little bitter fancier ring.
24 April 2018 @ 12:10 am
I have had a daith piercing for approximately 9 months I used to get you migraine pretty much daily I was on high dosages of painkillers codeine they were not helping. After I got my daith piercing I no longer take any codeine pills every once in awhile I get a headache but it only lasts a short period of time considering my headaches used to be 4 days now it’s only hours of pain I have yet to have a full-blown migraine since my daith piercing I have stopped taking codeine a daith piercing it’s not for everyone make sure your piercer is certified and reputable if you get a daith piercing make sure that it is on the side of your headache not the opposite cuz it may not work people make that mistake commonly remember daith piercings take up to a year to fully heal make sure you take good care of it
24 April 2018 @ 12:17 am
Daith piercings work great just make sure you are prepared for the long-term care of your piercing can take up to one year to heal if not longer in my book well worth it you spend hundreds of dollars for medication or$50 for a piercing no brainer if it does not solve your migraines and you’ve tried both ears the worst case scenario is that you have jewelry in your ear and you’re out a few dollars way less money then one month’s worth of painkillers