Why You Should Ignore the “Daith Piercings for Migraine” Hype
To share your experiences, resources, and clinical trial information,
please visit Daith Piercing for Migraine: Resources and Updates
Actually, it’s not even that much hype. But you may have seen an article circulating about how piercings, specifically daith piercings, may eliminate migraine attacks.
Daith piercing is a specific type of ear piercing, where the pierce goes through the ear’s innermost cartilage fold (if you have enough fold to get it done). Here’s some more information, plus pictures, from Body Piercing Magazine.
So stories have started to circulate that daith piercings could cure migraine. Take for example:
- A “Piercing” New Alternative for Migraine Relief Summary: One nurse has never heard of it, but suggests you go for it. Especially if you “believe”. A man who does piercings for a living most definitely suggests you go for it.
- Woman claims her EAR PIERCING has cured the excruciating migraines that left her housebound and vomiting Summary: One woman claims that her migraine attacks disappeared after her piercings (we don’t know how long ago that was). Someone at the Migraine Relief Center in Texas apparently wrote a blog post stating that daith piercings may work like acupuncture, which may work. However, the post has been removed from their website.
- A “Piercing” New Alternative for Anxiety and Migraine Relief: New Findings Summary: Finally, some “Findings”! The same nurse still hasn’t heard of it. One woman has seen “some difference” in her headache symptoms, but isn’t sure the changes are related to the piercing. The same guy selling piercings still recommends them. Oops – what were the findings again?
- Can Daith Piercings Stop Migraines? Here’s What You Need To Know About The Growing Trend Summary: Oh, good, a “trend”! With actual Twitter testimonials! Oh, wait … one person has fewer attacks … a second person says things have improved … oh, that’s all.
- Lots Of People Are Saying This Piercing Has Completely Cured Their Headaches Summary: Ok, “lots of people”. Oops – just one person quoted.
I also found a Twitter “club” where people can share their success stories. On October 17th, the owner (Natalie Thompson) had gone 39 days since the piercing, with no migraine attacks. In an interview she stated that she would like to think the piercing was a “part” of her improvement. On November 2nd she asked Is this damp and foggy weather affecting anyone? Maybe not feeling so well now? However, the club does have 23 followers.
In most cases, the daith piercing is being compared to acupuncture, a treatment that unfortunately has been far more hype than actual evidence. But this isn’t acupuncture anyway, it’s daith piercing, so …
I checked a little more on social media, and discovered that some people found the piercing gave them a migraine attack, and others found no or very little difference.
We can speculate all we want about the science of why this might work, but the fact of the matter is that it doesn’t seem to be working for that many people. There are no clinical trials. I can’t find any doctors saying that they have x number of patients who have found it helpful.
So it all leaves me spectacularly unimpressed.
And as far as the advice,”Try it, why not?” – well, with all the excellent treatments out there, I can actually suggest some reasons why not. Use up your mental and emotional energy, and money, on something that has some good evidence behind it. And if you really like the look of a daith piercing – go for it, but realize it actually could give you a headache. At least for a while.
I’ll say this – it is a good illustration of a lot of what is wrong with media reporting on migraine.
For more, check out this article on Snopes: A Daith of Evidence
MigraineWarbler
12 November 2015 @ 5:13 am
Why You Should Ignore the “Daith Piercings for Migraine†Hype https://t.co/6ZQJufEN2c #migraine #daithpiercing < fair points!
12 November 2015 @ 6:49 am
Gee…we are all soooooo dedperate! Its good when onr of us (?) Has the energy and clarity to pull this info together! Once upon a time, I drunk my midflow morning urine as per some ancient indian yogic texts saying this would cure just about everything…..we are in pain, we are dedperate and we are vulnerable to exploitation and misinformation. ….
MigraineMission
12 November 2015 @ 8:01 am
#Daith piercing? Have you tried it? Tell us about it! This article says there’s no real study behind it! Thoughts? https://t.co/a4DYtAT0bG
rebeccasherwin
12 November 2015 @ 8:25 am
RT @MigraineMission: #Daith piercing? Have you tried it? Tell us about it! This article says there’s no real study behind it! Thoughts? htt…
MigraineMisfits
12 November 2015 @ 7:52 pm
#MigraineurMisfits
#piercingformigraine
#bonuspost
I had some questions about the Daith piercings last week… https://t.co/unJA5weZrC
12 November 2015 @ 10:05 pm
If someone was interested in getting this piercing I would suggest seeing an certified Acupuncturist first. A piercing is a permanent approach that could lead to other issues or problems. There are numerous nerves and blood vessels in a small area.
1 January 2016 @ 10:20 pm
No, actually. Piercings are NOT permanent. You can take them out any time you’d like.
9 January 2016 @ 9:31 am
There are no nerves that run through cartilage. Research before commenting just to comment.
13 November 2015 @ 1:12 am
My opinion is this. Inhave been having migrwines since i was about 4. Was officially diagnosed at 6 years old…i am the youngest person in iowa diagnosed at that time…..there is no medication that works for every migraine every time. Not…i have been on every medication there is…some work sometimes and not others. Some dont work at all…somif this gives even a small amount of relief i cant see why you wouldnt try it….i have spent thpusands on medications. And i do know a young lady that got one of these piercing cuz she liked it…not for migraine relief….but it did give her some relief…. She would rub it for a couple minutes and she got relief in degrees from very little relief to head still hurt but no nausea to complete relief…..now i agree this isnt clinically tested or studied and it may not work for every person and every migraine but if it works even a little bit some times its worth it to me…..inhave been told by doctors to rub or massage that part of my ear or the bridge of my nose for years…..its like anything. Trial and error to see what works….heck doctors use trial and error and if people dont try new things then no one ever learns what works….
2 December 2015 @ 2:50 pm
FINALLY. someone w/ a little common sense. I to suffer from headaches & if a piercing may help, what is the harm in trying? if it doesn’t help, i can let the piercing close. good grief
2 January 2016 @ 9:51 pm
I agree w/you… even a little relief is better than none:) I have suffered on/off from migraines since i was about 8-9 and diagnosed @ 14… ive had wvery test imaginable, and medication too…
So, i went and got the piercing today… fingers crossed:)
14 January 2016 @ 10:38 am
Did this really help? My mother gets migraines just about every day and some where she can’t even get out of bed. I was just seeing if it has helped? Please and thanks for three advice in advance.
5 January 2016 @ 6:21 pm
Thank you! Exactly what I was going to write! I have tried so many medications and they don’t work. I will try almost anything at this point. If it doesn’t work….take out the piercing! ☺ï¸
11 January 2016 @ 4:47 pm
Its roughly $45.00 that is cheaper than $100.00 bottle of pills that don’t always work or i have to take more later. I say go for it, if it doesn’t work at least i got something cute out of my $45.00
MigraineMission
13 November 2015 @ 2:09 am
@MigraineTalk no proof this works I’m afraid! https://t.co/a4DYtAT0bG
13 November 2015 @ 3:53 am
The author of this article has obviously never suffered from migraines. If he/she did, he/she would know that migraineurs will try ANYTHING to cure this debilitating condition.
13 November 2015 @ 9:24 am
Hi Mel,
Thanks so much for your comment. You’re absolutely right about one thing – migraineurs will very often try anything. The reason I know this is that I am a long time sufferer – and I mean I’ve been writhing on the floor in agony, throwing up again and again, unable to even get up for a glass of water, even if could drink it without throwing up, which I couldn’t – long time sufferer.
I am not surprised that migraine patients will try anything. That’s why there have been so many websites with migraine cure scams through the years. People know that they can prey on people with migraine.
I’m not suggesting this is the case here. But frankly it’s exhausting to try all the treatments out there (I know from experience), and that’s why we need to focus on treatments that have good evidence behind them.
16 November 2015 @ 12:01 am
Well said!
2 December 2015 @ 10:08 am
Yea, however as I’ve had a migraine all day everyday for 3.5 years, this is definitely worth a try to me…..$40 and a bit of pain versus the thousands of dollars and hours I’ve spent in doctor’s offices that just prescribe medication after medication that make me sick. I’ve had 2 rounds of botox to no avail, all of that is MUCH more dangerous than this, I don’t see how you can advise someone that this is NOT worth trying when there aren’t many side effects compared to any of the treatments I have undergone. That really makes me question whether you have ever had a migraine in your life.
2 December 2015 @ 2:56 pm
how is this a scam? You did not offer any evidence to disprove the theory so 1 could say you are just bitter.
There is no harm in this whatsoever, so for someone who has horrible pain caused by headaches, they clearly have already tried your so called ‘excellent treatments’ & they didn’t work. Good grief, why so negative? You offered no evidence that they do not work so why would you discourage people from trying something that might give them relief?
& frankly, if you DID suffer, you would keep trying treatments till you found something that worked.
try to be more positive, the world has enough negativity
14 December 2015 @ 7:59 pm
I suffer from migraines, and I certainly won’t try ANYTHING.
13 November 2015 @ 9:06 am
Is it just me or does it seem that the author of this article is NOT a fellow sufferer? Because as someone who does have a constant background headache with frequent migraines on top, I am about desperate to try something that could help.
What this article doesn’t recognize is that for us sufferers, “anything that may work,” “fewer headaches,” and “improved” symptoms are SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE CURRENT SUFFERING! Seriously, I will try ANYTHING (under consideration of good health), including a no-side-effects piercing. If you ask me, a simple piercing that “may” help and has no side effects is SO much better than some prescription medicine that also may help but has too many awful side effects (I’ve been through the list, so trust me on that statement). So yes, I will be trying out this small, hidden piercing technique (acknowledging that it is not a cure, but a possible treatment). I also wonder if anyone considers the fact that most doctors are in the pharmaceutical companies’ pockets (and in my experience, this definitely includes neurologists handling migraine patients). Yes, there are other medical treatments out there, but I know that my (private) insurance does not cover most, and even when they do it’s partial coverage. So for me, trying a $30 piercing is worth it before I try a $500 procedure that also “may” help.
13 November 2015 @ 9:48 am
Hi KB,
Thanks for your comment. You’ve made some excellent points.
As you can see from the previous comment, you’re not the only one who apparently thinks a sufferer could not have written this article. But actually, it’s exactly because I am a long-time sufferer (and as I said in my reply to Mel, I mean a serious can’t-move-throwing-up-again-and-again-agonizing-unbelievable-pain-sufferer) – it’s because I’m a sufferer that I wrote the article.
Your two main points here are great. First, a little improvement is better than nothing. Absolutely!
Second, all other things being equal, a $30 treatment is better than a $500 treatment. I agree!
I’m not sure about “no side effects”, since I’m seeing more anecdotal evidence that these piercings may trigger a migraine than that they may cure it. But even there, if the procedure triggers a few days of migraine attacks, but stops a few months of migraine attacks, it would be worth it.
The problem here is the lack of evidence, and the many, many other “treatments” that probably have more people who claim they have helped – even treatments that cost as little as this.
Take for example oil of oregano, baking soda, ear candling, the nightshade diet, pressing your thumb on certain parts of your face, avoiding plastic, sniffing peppermint, changes in posture, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide therapy, certain foot massages – on and on it goes. And some of those have a lot more evidence, and a lot more people who claim they work, than daith piercings.
Take the well-studied treatments alone. Give them all a decent try, it will take you several years, if not a lifetime. Add in various combinations, it will most certainly take a lifetime or more. Throw in some treatments with a little evidence or at least a lot of anecdotal evidence, and you’ll need to live – I’m guessing – several lifetimes to try them all.
Or, we could read the latest headlines and jump from what’s popular to what’s popular.
I realize we all do it sometimes – because we WANT HELP NOW. But if there’s some way we can change the culture – just a little – and encourage people to try better treatments (even the inexpensive ones), maybe more people will find help.
If you like the look of a daith piercing, and are willing to put up with a little pain in the short term, go for it. Keep a headache diary and track your symptoms before and after. Whether it helps or not, come back and report. I won’t judge you for that (whether it works or not) – in fact, reporting back with good data will help everyone, whether it works or doesn’t. If 200 people with good records claim that it’s helping, maybe a clinical trial will be done, and more people can be helped.
But do seriously consider some of the hundreds of other options out there as well.
9 January 2016 @ 4:02 pm
Hi. My name is Heather and I am a professional body piercer. I heard about the Daith piercing “migraine piercing” about 6 months ago. My mother, father, brother, daughter and several friends who all suffered from migraines. I did the piercing on my daughter who’s migraine symptoms included; partial facial paralysis, vomiting, extreme pain, sensitivity to lights and sound and many trips to the hospital… shortly after the piercing she had one attack that was “extremely mild” in comparison. She has since been migraine free only suffering from a couple of “headaches”. I was intrigued by the results and so I started on my friends…the results were amazing. I then offered the piercing at work. Taking as much information from the clients as I could about their specific symptoms, frequencies, ages they started and then exchanged personal phone numbers. I checked on them weekly. The results were staggering! One woman had migraines at least 2-4 times per week and woke with a headache at best ever single day since she was a teenager. After this piercing she messaged me saying she woke up for the first time since she was a child without a headache. It’s been a few months and she is still headache/migraine free! Every. Single. client thus far has had MAJOR improvement or are now completely free of those awful things! People seem to forget that our bodies are amazing and that pressure points, fragrances, oils, acupuncture(the list goes on and on) can be more reliable and healthier than what pharmaceuticals can offer. I’m not saying this could just be the placebo effect (Placebo effect: Also called the placebo response. A remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo — a fake treatment, an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution — can sometimes improve a patient’s condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful.) but even if that is the case, it’s still just backs up how amazing our bodies/minds can be. Plus, if it works, it works.
12 January 2016 @ 10:15 am
Thanks for your comments, Heather. Next week I’m hoping to start putting together some of the information we’re getting on this. Thanks for keeping track of your patients – keep doing it, and I encourage you to come back and comment on the new post. Here’s hoping that you can tell us about more people who have been helped!
14 January 2016 @ 11:56 am
How do I know I’m getting a piercer who knows what they are doing? Is there a pinpoint place the piercing needs to go in order to promote the kind of results you have chronicled? As a mom of a little one, i cant take any chances on a “major screw up”. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
14 January 2016 @ 8:47 pm
Honestly I saw a shop on facebook who had puctures of a bunch of daith piercings that they had recently done and they talked about how they believed it could work.
What I’m really saying is that these people had done their research and were not JUST piercers. I was getting this for medical and healing purposes and not because i just wanted a piercing.
The shop had a 4.9 of 5 rating. No one seemed to have anything bad to say about them. Im sure if people were unhappy about something they would voice it. They also charged 30 which I felt was a good price and they have had a recent event where they would do them for 20 because they believe in what they are doing.
14 January 2016 @ 8:52 pm
Also i want to add that I did my left ear bc thats the side my mirgraines started on but person doing my piercing said there is aways one side that just works, and that if doing my left didnt work he recommended doing the right and not to give up. He said he likes to do both because then you know you’ve got it but i really just wanted to try the left.
So far, so good. No headaches though its only been a couple weeks.
13 November 2015 @ 3:02 pm
I set the Twitter account up and a Facebook group as I had the piercing done 3 months ago. Since then I have had no migraine attack and my daily headache pain (NDPH) has decreased to a 3/10. I’m not saying this is a cure for everybody but with over 50 followers on Twitter and 200+ in the Facebook group there are a lot of headache and migraine sufferers willing to try it.
The effect may wear off, I don’t know but I do know that it’s working for me at the moment, and I’d rather this than popping more pills. I’m still on my meds, I would never stop them without speaking to my neurologist first and I am not headache free, but at the moment it’s manageable and if I can get a bit of my life back by having a piercing then so be it.
5 December 2015 @ 4:44 am
I’d like to follow your Facebook page, but, I don’t know how to find it.
For me, once the barometric pressure goes up (even a wee bit) – BAM, migraine. This week has been challenge and I’m seriously thinking of getting a Daith piercing. I’d love to be a part of a group that discusses their experiences. Help? Friend me on Facebook? Send me an e~mail?
14 January 2016 @ 8:54 pm
How do we find your group?
13 November 2015 @ 4:33 pm
Try “Stoppain migraine,” an herbal remedy that just underwent clinical trials at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and came out with a positive result. You can read about it in the Wall Street Journal . It’s a combination of mint and other herbs that you rub into the back of your neck. It does not get rid of terrible migraines, but it helps with mild headaches, rebound, and the beginning of migraine, especially when coupled with going for a walk. Plus, you can use it when you taking all your other drugs.
13 November 2015 @ 5:51 pm
The title of the article says we should ignore the hype.
But what it really seems like you are trying to say is that we should do research on the subject and weigh the pros and cons based on the information available. That would be the opposite of ignoring the hype. It would actually be giving the hype more attention than it probably even deserves.
I think that’s where you’ve lost a lot of people and maybe what made you come across as someone who doesn’t understand the desperation that comes with chronic migraines.
Your real point is (I think) that no one should read one article and run out and shove a needle in their ear and expect a miracle. I hope that’s your point.. Because it’s a really good one.
I don’t think the title does you any justice since you aren’t actually telling anyone to ignore it. You aren’t even telling people not to try it.. You’re actually telling people to be cautious and informed.
I respect your actual point.
Personally, I love piercings. So I’m all about this and I’ll try it even if it happens to cause some migraines and I end up getting rid of it. The beauty of piercings is that they are removable! And when done by a professional with a perfect reputation, they are quite safe (as safe as needles can be anyway).
Your probably in more danger driving to the shop. So it seems the risk is pretty low in that regard.
13 November 2015 @ 6:31 pm
i would suggest if you have not tried it, the cefaly headband. i was violently throwing up and could not move for hours through the pain in my head, but since using this, the pain is slight and the sickness is slight and less migraines. i can get on with life now. i would still consider this piercing if it gets rid of it completely. i will wait a little longer to see the results on others. but cefaly highly recomended.
13 November 2015 @ 7:38 pm
I have been a long tine migraine suffer(22+ yrs) so when I heard about Daith piercing I was on the fence because, I have tried just about everything! I decided to give it a try after doing some research, I am happy to say I have not woken up wanting to vomit or had to take anything stronger than Advil in a week. I would like to say I got my piercing while I had a migraine and found it had decreased significantly the next day and furthermore over the week. I can only hope this will continue, if it doesn’t I am happy for the reprieve! Keeping my fingers crossed!
14 November 2015 @ 11:58 am
“I’m seeing more anecdotal evidence that these piercings may trigger a migraine than that they may cure it.”
Why are you citing anecdotal evidence that suggest a daith piercing can *cause* migraines but won’t acknowledge the anecdotal evidence that it helps?
In my book “fewer attacks” and “improved” are worth something. NOTHING I’ve ever done, not the four current meds I take daily, or the countless meds I’ve tried, the spinal injections, the Botox, the physical therapy, the massage, the chiropractor, the oils the herbal supplements or anything else has ever fully worked. Some have brought fewer attacks and have helped my condition improve though. I see no difference.
14 November 2015 @ 3:57 pm
I agree with you James – a bit of hype, but nothing concrete to back it up. The poster who mentioned acupuncture for migraines has a solid suggestion, used for as far back as 600 BC, possibly much longer – acupuncture is far from ‘hype’
The Piercing Pagoda, or a friend with a needle, lighter and dental floss is most likely not your answer.
15 November 2015 @ 7:36 am
I have been suffering for years, the past 3 have been awful. I have tried auricular acupuncture (in Colombia) and it worked so well.
When I got back to the states, I tried it again but the person I found didn’t do such a good job.
I went last night to get this done, for balance purposes I got it on both ears. This morning was the first morning in a long time that I touched my face and felt no extreme sensitivity.
I have had them for 9 hours and so far I beleive they may not take the migraines away but they are helping.
16 November 2015 @ 1:37 am
i have been a long term sufferer for 14yrs i live in the uk i have been on EVERY type of medication avalible to me my next step was the headache clinic for 5DAYS A MONTH this is not practucal i have a job a child and a house to run before i got my daith peirced my migrains were that bad i wpuld pass out,throw up be in my bed for days unable to move i have ended up in hospital because there that bad so i decided to get my daith peirced on the 13th of nov 2015 since then (today 16th) i have had a total diff headache were there is just lots of pressure on my head makin me hot and cold i can still get up and i can still do things around the house its not the best result but its a huge improvement knowing i dont need my daughter to phone her gran to come round and take her to school i know its early days and im hopeing things will improve im keeping note of everything and i wish everyone who suffers with these all the luck in the world i will and have been trying everything
16 November 2015 @ 2:10 am
A nurse practioner in Texas (Tanya) has posted a you tube video on this. Worth checking out.
16 November 2015 @ 10:38 pm
I have struggled with migraines since a teenager, both my parents and grandparents are chronic sufferers. I have been prescribed just about everything under the sun, have seen numerous neurologists and regularly frequent the ER for migraines with stroke like symptoms. I recently got a daith piercing about two weeks ago – and my daily/4-6 days a week migraines have ceased since my daith piercing. Sure, it may be a placebo – but we’ll see as time goes on. I know a few people with these piercings that have the same condition I do, that have had great luck over a longer time period. For $80 I’ll take my two week relief that numerous prescription medications have been unable to give me.
17 November 2015 @ 12:50 am
James, well done on an informed and brave article. As someone who writes about migraine myself I know the easiest thing to do is sit on the fence. But you’ve stated your opinion and provided solid grounds for it! Bravo.
17 November 2015 @ 3:28 am
Takes a long time to heal. If anything, I think having a distinct source of tension in the middle of your ear could actually draw the focus away from whatever is causing your tension headaches… but if your migraines aren’t tension related, likely not gonna work. Also, as far as acupuncture is concerned, piercing the crus of the helix seems more likely to cause incontinence.
17 November 2015 @ 9:03 pm
Natalie, whats the name of your page?
23 November 2015 @ 10:01 pm
I had a Daith for years. It did nothing.
24 November 2015 @ 12:31 pm
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.
In regards to no scientific proof or numbers to show this works, keep in mind there simply hasn’t been a study done on this and there are not any numbers in regards to treatments and their success rates either. We have no idea what percentage of people that meds work for, percentage of people that botox works for, etc so I wouldn’t discredit this so fast especially when there’s no shortage of Doctors saying give it a try.
More to say but more piercings await!
24 November 2015 @ 1:02 pm
Hilary, it’s in Facebook and called ‘The Daith Club – for migraineurs’
Pop along and have a look – lots of success stories
3 December 2015 @ 11:33 am
I have requested to join the closed group…I’m very anxious and really want to get this done to see if it helps I’m just scared. Just looking for real-life people who have had experience with it.
15 December 2015 @ 10:12 am
I had mine done on 12/11 after another week of excruciating migraine. That Friday was so bad I was hoping at the very least a new pain made me forget my head pain. Nothing was working to even help the symptoms that week. Within a couple of hours my migraine was starting to weaken. I woke up the next morning migraine free and ever since. I do have some head pressure like a migraine may come, but it doesn’t. I don’t think it will work for everyone but for $60 I was willing to give it a shot. So far so good. Hope it continues.
29 December 2015 @ 3:56 pm
I just requested to join your group. I am planning to get a daith piercing in the next week or so. I have taken so many meds that all they do is make me feel stoned, while only madking the pain. I have had migraines for over 10 years but a non-stop one for more than a year. Anything is better nothing as far as relief goes.
7 January 2016 @ 3:44 pm
I just did a search on Facebook for your page and I couldn’t find it. Is it still up??
25 November 2015 @ 8:30 am
I am a tattoo shop & piercing shop owner and have never heard this until recently. my mother is 58 and has suffered from migraine all her life and has been on some of the strongest mess since she was young. We did this piercing on her and she went from having severe migraines everyday to mild ones about once a week. Since we posted it on our shop site we have had a few others come and and have the same precedure done and they have also had The same results. I can’t help but to think the piercing actually does work on some people and reliefs pain in some people with seeing it for my own eyes and I hope this can help some other people with migraine:)
3 December 2015 @ 11:35 am
Where are you located? I have had nonstop migraines all day all night 3.5 years, none of my doctors can figure out what is causing it they just keep putting me on more drugs; i Just want to find someone with experience in doing the piercing specifically for migraines, hoping you’re close to the DFW lol.
25 November 2015 @ 8:32 am
Sorry about the typing!! Auto correct gets the best of me at times
29 November 2015 @ 10:06 am
I feel like the author is forgetting that not everything is designed to work for everyone. Just because a certain Med works for you doesn’t mean it will work for me. I’ve avoided medication because I simply don’t like taking meds, I have no idea if it’s just one of my quirks or what but I’d rather have a 30 dollar piercing than a prescription bottle full of pills with horrible side effects.
29 November 2015 @ 9:06 pm
I have suffered from Chronic Migraines as a side effect of the Birth Control Mirana for 3 years now. I got the Daith piercing about a week ago and this has been the first week in 3 whole years that I have went completely without a migraine.
As far as this article goes, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
I’m not saying it works for everyone, nor is it a cure all, but for me, it has been amazing.
29 November 2015 @ 10:17 pm
I’m an acupuncturist and can say with certainty that the idea behind this is not bogus. I’ve personally used auricular (ear) acupuncture to treat migraines, along with other acupoints, with much success. I’ve treated many (yes, many) patients – chronic migraine sufferers – that have gone months, and some YEARS, without suffering a migraine after just one treatment. Will every person be this responsive to one treatment? No. Many times, it will take a series of treatments. This is b/c every acu treatment is customized according to the individual patient. In other words, there doesn’t exist just one single acupuncture protocol to cure all migraine sufferers. Acupuncture, and all Chinese medicine, is a holistic practice, meaning we consider the WHOLE person…not just his/her head. Hence, each migraine treatment will vary from person to person because the source of your migraine may not be the source of mine. So it’s entirely possible this piercing could exacerbate some people’s headaches. This is where the discrepancy lies and this is what the vast majority of people don’t understand about acupuncture. That said, I would only use this ear acupoint in patients after concluding it would be one of the best points for them.
I can’t vouch for the efficacy of the daith piercing to help migraines. What I can vouch for is the efficacy of acupuncture, acupressure, and the 5,000 year old medicine I spent the last $100,000+ and 5.5 years of my life studying. Which I NEVER would have done if I didn’t A) believe in it as much as I do, and B) KNOW that it works. You’re much quicker to believe this piercing actually “gave” people migraines, but not so quick to believe it could in fact be a “part” of migraine relief. And I make this inference based on your blatant and rather mocking use of quotations, and, well, your entire dismissive article of something you know nothing about.
I don’t have a problem with differing opinions from mine. My problem herein lies in people such as yourself publishing articles for the masses telling us we shouldn’t try effective healing methods simply because you think they’re “hype” and outdated. Clinical trials for something like this take years upon years to be considered valid in the West and keep in mind that this medicine has only been popular here for less time than you or I have probably even been alive. And just to humor you, let’s just say the whole thing IS just hype and it IS just the placebo effect. Why would you take that possibility of relief away from people in pain just b/c you think it’s bogus? I implore you to consider the fact that you have a lot of readers and your written opinion could actually mean the difference between someone seeking relief via daith piercing and/or acupuncture, and NOT seeking relief. You know, I’ll go as far as to say about half of my patients coming to see me are doing so in efforts to reverse the effects of all the drugs their doctors have them taking. But these drugs all have clinical trials right? If they were so great, then I wouldn’t have M.D.s referring their patients to us all the time. Yes. THAT happens quite often. If you’re a migraine sufferer, then I reeeeallyyyy implore you to try acupuncture before you dismiss the idea behind it and tell all your readers it’s not worth their money or time.
I’ll say this – it is a good illustration of a lot of what is wrong with media reporting on migraine.
30 November 2015 @ 4:48 pm
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)
30 November 2015 @ 9:04 pm
I too heard about this recently, and despite most of it being heresay, I thought why not…I got it done two weeks ago, and have not had an inkling of a migraine. I normally suffer from one a week. I know it has only been a short while, and whether it is placebo, or a coincidence, I am more that happy for now.
1 December 2015 @ 12:53 pm
I have had chronic daily migraine for 23 years had my doth done 3 weeks ago havent a migraine or aura since.if u suffer migraines i would defo try it.
1 December 2015 @ 1:16 pm
My wife has been suffering from migraines for a couple years now, she had both ears ‘Daith piercing’ done, and has been free of migraines for over 20 days now.. It may be hype, but it’s worth it to try.. She’s certainly glad she did!
2 December 2015 @ 8:25 am
It’s a piercing, it can’t be as harmful as the drugs I dump into my body on an almost daily basis. I don’t mean tylenol or ibuprofen, I mean triptans, narcotics, anti-nausea meds to name a few. If it does not work, take it out. There are studies that prove some relief may be psychosomatic, so why feel the need to write a blog bashing people who really have gotten relief from them. Everyone responds to things differently, you can find just as many blogs/articles for this as against it. It just comes down to do what works for you. If this does, good, if not it is just a piercing.
3 December 2015 @ 11:25 am
Yes Amanda! Exactly my point in thinking this person doesn’t know what migraines are like, or what taking the medications does to you.
I take all those as well, my triptans, narcotics, and botox treatments along with anti-seizure and muscle relaxers for “preventative” treatments are MUCH more dangerous than a simple piercing. This whole article seems like nonsense to me.
2 December 2015 @ 9:11 am
I don’t get migraines often, but they are a 10/10. For a few years I have taken 6 cayenne capsules (in OTC section by the vitamins) and Dramamine. I also use Sea Band seasickness wristbands. This method, when taken within 5 minutes of initial aura, helps tremendously. The Dramamine makes me very sleepy (which helps, too!) so if I need to be alert, I skip the Dramamine. Pain drops to about a 5, but I can function.
I bought a cefaly device a couple months ago. I have had one small migraine since I started using it. It’s a nifty gizmo. You wear it for 20 minutes every day and it is supposed to prevent migraine. It sends an electrical signal on your forehead… It’s very similar to the sensation from a TENS device. What I like about the Cefaly is that it is supposed to prevent, not just treat. It has been studied in Europe (ie, a proper scientific study), and the data indicates noticeable reduction in migraine days. I’m pleased with it, because November is usually my worst migraine time. Worth every penny.
2 December 2015 @ 10:21 pm
Why even worry about what others do? Do you need attention? If someone wants to try it, let them. I have Chiari Malformation. A disease of the brain that makes me live daily with pain, mostly severe migraine. I have no insurance, so these types of therapies, that MAY help SOME, are very welcomed. You may not believe in this piercing, but that’s an opinion. Until you’ve tried it yourself, this article is null and void. Go get the piercing then come back and write a review. Can’t properly review anything you haven’t experienced yourself. Like most, it may work for some and not others. For those who have success….GREAT!!!! For those that don’t, it didn’t hurt to try.
3 December 2015 @ 5:43 pm
Rachel we are located in Rapid City, MI but it’s a very simple piercing that most any professional piercer can do. Find a tattoo shop that has piercing available and they should be able to tell you if they can provide the service.
3 December 2015 @ 5:43 pm
Rachel we are located in Rapid City, MI but it’s a very simple piercing that most any professional piercer can do. Find a tattoo shop that has piercing available and they should be able to tell you if they can provide the service. My mom is still doing amazing and hasn’t had a h
3 December 2015 @ 10:34 pm
Thanks for all the comments! I’m 48 yrs old and have been a sufferer for 30 yrs! My twin sister suffers also. We are going to try this piercing, can’t hurt … definitely worth a try for the price. I have spent so much money on Doctors, drugs, Botox, etc. Just wanted to throw this out there too .. I found about a migraine surgery (nerve decompression) that has a success rate in the 80%. It’s done by a plastic surgeon (at least at UW Hospital in Madison, WI – google if interested, Dr Afifi) and they relieve the nerve being pinched by your eyebrow, temple area, nose (if deviated septum), and/or sub occipital muscles. You get a partial eye brow lift out of the deal 🙂 I had my consult, am a good candidate and was approved by my insurance company! So I am hoping the piercing gives me some relief while waiting for my March surgery date.
4 December 2015 @ 7:39 am
This article is so unnecessarily condescending. Obviously this treatment needs to be researched, but it had to be discovered first and enough interest in it has to be had before anyone would want to research it.
4 December 2015 @ 9:44 am
I have had migraines since probley 12 years old. If i make it a week with no migranes its the best week of my life. Of course i cant go a week without even a small headache. I occasionally wake with the left temple migraine. It doesnt wake me up, i wake with it. I havent been diagnosed with anything. With research, i have self diagnosed myself with tension headaches,cluster, and rebound. I have permanent damage to L5 in my neck and spine curving. I am to the point nothing works.excedrin migraine has helped for years but now doesnt help. I have a family history of brain anurizum(sp) migranes in my mom. Sometimes they r so painful i cant walk,bend,lift,brush hair,brush teeth, breath.i want to pull my hair out and scream! I noticed a few veins appear darker on my forehead.idk if that means anything. I love piercings and what not so if it dont help and want it gone, just let it close up. Anyone have any other ideas that have helped even just ease the pain during an attack? I have tried so many to help during and preventing. Open to all options! Help me!
4 December 2015 @ 6:17 pm
Actually, a clinical trial is being done in Buffalo, NY. A friend of mine is a part of it and has just had the piercing. Eagerly waiting the results for her and the trial!
9 January 2016 @ 12:45 pm
Hi Kelly,
I’m putting together a list of some resources regarding success stories, trials, etc. Could you tell us where this trial is taking place, and who will be publishing the results?
Thanks for sharing!
5 December 2015 @ 3:50 am
Shouldn’t the author maybe have got his daith pierced as part of his research. You cant discredit its potential if you haven’t tried yourself. Thats like writing a damning review of a film i havent seen. i am not a sufferer but my wife is and ive watched the effects take its toll for a number of years. every PROVEN medication has been tried to little or no effect. So we have no issue with trying this out to see the result. Why do we have to wait for clinical trials for something as simple as a piercing. we are not mixing various chems in a lab to create a cure all, its a tiny hole in the skin that takes no more than 60 seconds to complete. If it proves to be complete hokum well so be it, but at a very minimal cost for a very trivial procedure that is completely reversible then theres no harm in trying. And given its simplicity i would have maybe have attempted to get it done in order to write a complete piece on the matter. As you stated ‘it is a good illustration of a lot of what is wrong with media reporting on migraine’
5 December 2015 @ 5:01 am
I have no clue whether this piercing helps or not with migraine because I have not tried this or acupuncture and obviously neither has the author.This article does not contain any single evidence or fact, it is just mocking people who tried it. So I am a little disappointed here.
I am constantly searching on migraine as I am trying to help myself out of misery and at least acupuncture is quite acknowledged as treatment (again:I haven’t tried it yet, this is from my “Internet research”).
Anyway my problem here is that the author rejects things on no evidence (tweets of people about foggy weather are not evidence) and adds another piece of information of no value to the already noisy tons of information on the Internet.
5 December 2015 @ 12:17 pm
450+ people in my Facebook group – we can’t all be wrong. Day 88 migraine free since having the piercing. It can’t all be our heads
11 December 2015 @ 12:14 pm
Natalie Thompson – Do you have just the one side pierced or both? 88 days is awesome!
5 December 2015 @ 5:07 pm
I am one of those who suffers with migraines. Everything from vomiting, to fainting. I recently heard of this. With my latest set of migraines I’ve tried pinching that area of the ear. Omg, the migraine actually stops but returns the second I let go. So personally I’m going to try it..
6 December 2015 @ 8:01 am
You clearly mustn’t suffer from migraine/severe headaches because trust me, when you do, you’ll try absolutely anything for relief. They can get that bad to the point where you can end up depressed due to the fact that you can’t go to college, can’t keep a job, can’t make plans, can’t look after your kids alone and basically just can’t take the pain. No one seems to understand how bad they are and if you call into work saying you can’t come in because of a migraine, a lot of people would not take you seriously. If your life is taken over by them that much that you don’t even see the point in living anymore, then yes, a piercing is worth a fucking try to be honest, it can’t get much worse than this so its at least worth trying.
6 December 2015 @ 8:07 am
^not only that but I went into a piercing shop to ask about it the other day, I didn’t know it’s name at the time but I said to the piercer “hi, I’m not sure what it’s called but I was wondering how much it would cost to pierce a part of my ear, apparently it can help migraines.”and he replied “it’s called a daith piercing and it’s £15”
so surely if the piercer knew what I meant when I said that, there’s a chance it’s actually successful, and at such a low price, I’m definitely getting it done.
I’ll return to this thread to post about whether it helped me or not.
7 December 2015 @ 8:00 pm
When I first heard a friend talk about this, I thought about how I would do anything to get rid of migraines, but of course I was skeptical. There seems to be no convincing evidence. So I’ll stick to the usual, not always satisfying, but partly efficient, treatment.
9 December 2015 @ 3:45 am
I have been suffering with cluster headaches and migraines since I was 14, I’m now 40 and have tried everything! I felt like I was a Guinea pig, being tested, scans, different medications. They seemed to calm when I had my son at 33, however in the last 4 years they have come back. I’m desperate just like everyone else. I went and had my daith pierced last Thursday, and I have not had one migraine or headache since! I’m praying it’s not a coincidence! It can’t be, as normally I have at least four out of the seven days needing to go to bed in a dark room. I know it’s early days, but so far so good!
10 December 2015 @ 7:28 am
I work as a piercer and so far only one person has come to me about this. She got it done, I haven’t heard anything about how her migraines have been since, but my view on it is that piercers are not acupuncturists, and vice versa. They’re both two completely different things. If you like the piercing and want to give it a go, then I’d say go for it. But all in all, I’d say it’s more of a hit and miss treatment..unfortunately.
10 December 2015 @ 8:26 pm
You obviously do not suffer from chronic migraines, this post is almost degrading to those of us who do. The other “methods” out there you speak of are ill informed. Have you ever been to a neurologist for chronic migraines? Each individual person is different, and what works for one or hundreds, may not work for the next. If a little piercing has even the slightest chance to get myself off of mass amounts of migraine preventatives, then you bet your ass I’ll be taking that chance. I know that I am not the only one who somewhat took offense to this post.
12 December 2015 @ 1:03 pm
I’ve had migraines since I was 3. Officially diagnosed at 5. I’m going to get mine done in about an hour. I’ll be 40 in your months. If I can go a week without a migraine finally I’ll be in heaven!! My friend has had hers for awhile & it’s working just fine.
14 December 2015 @ 11:32 am
The daith piercing has about a 50% chance of working, however for those that have had no luck with that there is the tragus and even nape that can help with migraine pain. I recently had my daith done during a particularly bad migraine attack, 3 days of sheer hell. It’s now been 7 weeks and have only had 1 headache (sinus headache for the record) I’m one of the 50% that it helped. I was extraordinarily skeptical about it working but 3 days of hell I was willing to try anything. There was immediate relief once pierced (went from an 8 on the pain scale to a 4) a couple of hours afterward it dropped to a 2. This piercing will not work for everyone, but it worked for me and I couldn’t be happier.
14 December 2015 @ 3:17 pm
I suffer from migraines 3-4 days out of 7 for the last 11 years. Mine were caused from a car accident in 2004 and I get tension in my shoulders and neck that cause massive migraines. They have only gotten worse and can last as long as 3 weeks.
Last week I had a migraine for over 4 days and it was getting worse each day and nothing would help. I finally decided that $60 was worth a shot with the Daith piercing. So far I am very glad I did. Within a couple hours the migraine was starting to diminish. I wake up throughout the night with neck pain and migraines almost nightly. I still wake up from neck pain, but no head pain. I feel some pressure in my neck lower head, but no pain really. This is how I usually feel with a massive migraine. It has only been about 4 days with my piercings, but I have been migraine free those days. Only time will really tell, but piercings can be taken out so they are not always permanent. If you are down to your last resort and willing to try, why not? It may not work for everyone, but I’m glad I tried it. Well worth the $60 trial.
14 December 2015 @ 3:38 pm
Well, that is easy for you to say, but when you have had chronic,daily migraines for more than 20 years, have tried A to Z in western and eastern medicine, I had a Daith piercing done two weeks ago. Instead of three migraines a day I now get one and today might actually be the first migraine free day I have had in over 20 years. So if you’ve got them, tried everything, RUN to try this!
15 December 2015 @ 4:07 pm
I’ve been a Classic Migraine sufferer for 53 years. I’m 67 and I still get them. I live in southern CA, in the high desert at an altitude of 3,000 above sea level. I get migraines when the barometric pressure changes; just before the Santa Ana winds start blowing; and when I’m stressed. If I drink cocoa, or eat chocolate (phenylethyl amine, an amino acid in the cocoa, is a well-known cause of migraines), I will definitely get a migraine. I haven’t eaten chocolate, or had hot cocoa in over 30 years. Aged cheeses; wine; too much sleep; too little sleep; genetics; hormones, among a host of other causes can trigger migraines; doctors don’t really know the causes. One may as well stop living. I see my neurologist every three months. I take 50 mgs. of Elavil (Amitriptyline) every night to curtail the migraines, but I still get breakthroughs when the weather changes or I’m stressed. When I get the aura (I HATE those damned things!), I take Relpax for the pain. I take only a half a tablet, since it makes me sleepy. I’m knocked out from the migraine itself, so when I take the Relpax, I’m useless for the next two days. I went for acupuncture; an hour later…BAM! A migraine! I am in the process of having my jaw re-aligned, since my new dentist discovered that I have a terrible bite. No other dentists ever addressed this! The tops of my bottom front teeth, touch my palate, while my upper and lower molars do not touch at all. My dentist said this MAY be the cause of my migraines, as well as the trigeminal neuralgia (terrible face pain) I suffer from periodically. So, I have braces on my uppers and a splint on my lowers. I have teeth like a rabbit. Fronts are longer than the molars. So, once the upper front teeth are straightened, the lower fronts will need to be pulled down by a wire attached to a stud that will be screwed into the bone under my lower fronts. So, yes, a migraine sufferer will try ANYTHING to alleviate migraines. I’m proof of that! I recently saw that two of my FB friends have gotten their daiths pierced and they swear their migraines have lessened. So, I may just give it a try….after my jaw and teeth are realigned.
16 December 2015 @ 3:45 am
I’ve suffered from migraines for as long as I can remember, I seen this was an option and it was helping some that got it, so after a few months of seeing the hype, I decided to try it cause I’m into piercings, and with a headache everyday, and cluster migraines popping up 20 day a month I thought what the hey why not, I’ve had it only a week as well and it has dramatically reduced the pain in my head, I had a head injury when I was little, so there is still pain, but I’m waiting for the headaches to come back, it feels weird not being in the pain. The pain seemed to reduce the moment it was done. I knew it may not help, but I went and did it anyways. Maybe pain sensors in my head had to redirect to cope with getting the peircing, but its almost as if that nerve in my head was freed of most of the pain. It hasn’t taken all of it, but it is more tolerable and its a relief, I don’t know what to do with myself now that my head isn’t hurting as bad as it use to. I have suffered so long with migraines that I’m not use to not having them. And being a long time sufferer I was willing to try anything. Some headaches are so bad that at times I wished I would die. I worry it may come back at full force, but I feel good now, and I may go get other ear done, cause I feel the mild pain on other side of my head. The pain on the side I had it done on has improved, it isn’t totally gone, I’m amazed it helped a little. So if anyone is wanting one done make sure you know it may only subside some of your pain and not all of it. But in short, if you want it get it, don’t let one article sway your choice, but if it don’t help any, its still a cool looking peircing
16 December 2015 @ 7:23 am
James, I just wanted to thank you for this and other articles that you’ve written which are full of common sense and try to make us fellow migraineurs cautious about not to believe in every hype.
I cannot understand why some people are so angry about your article. I think it’s better to say that so far there is no proof and there might be negative implications than to jump on the wagon, tell everybody to get a piercing and then… people might complain because they actually got headaches from it. People should be thankful for a rational approach, because as you said there are many scams out there.
To the others: he did not say it is a scam, he said that it’s not proven yet and there might be risks associated with it.
And please don’t forget that there have been some strong placebo effects in migraine studies…
16 December 2015 @ 3:03 pm
‘I checked a little more on social media, and ………’ Not exactly backing it up with science are you? Whether this type of piercing or auricular acupuncture does or doesn’t work remains to be seen – you haven’t really proven anything in this article, all you have actually said is that you have read some articles that were as unscientific and lacking in proof as you own!
17 December 2015 @ 6:40 am
I’ve been a migraine sufferer for 24 years. I, also, have increased spinal fluid pressure that, unmedicated, causes the worst headache you can imagine. I have a migraine every single day of my life, it just varies in intensity.
That said, I tried the daith piercing. For me, it really was worth trying. If there is a migraine treatment I haven’t tried, it must be hidden. I wouldn’t suggest the daith piercing. My body rejected the piercing. OUCH!! The piercing didn’t help my migraines and rejection is very painful.
17 December 2015 @ 1:21 pm
Does the piercing go on the migraine side or the other?
17 December 2015 @ 2:10 pm
I have frequent migraines and chronic tension headaches. I also have two tattoos, plans for at least three more, three ear piercings, and plans for four more. When I heard that I could switch my traigus piercing about four centimeters to the side to my daith and possibly reduce my headache symptoms I was at least intrigued, if not slightly thrilled. I don’t think that this article said what you meant for it to say, or at least I don’t think that it portrayed the message that it should have. I don’t think that we should reject any possible relief method, different things work for different people, hell different things work for me for different migraines. I think that we need to do an open mind, and especially with such a new treatment option, read up on what people have to say about it. You should never go into anything expecting it to be the end all be all of cures.
17 December 2015 @ 7:38 pm
I got it done with the let’s just try it….and it worked. Nothing for weeks. Absolutely nothing. Piercings can close up and heal. It didn’t even hurt to get the piercing. I can’t say it would work for everyone but everyone that has tried it since has had success. So if it isn’t for you don’t do it. If you try it and it doesn’t work at least you tried. But IF you’re lucky and it works…great!
18 December 2015 @ 11:12 am
I have suffered from chronic migraines for 27 years. My friend from work has also had chronic migraines which did not respond to anything, even Triptans. She got the daith piercing and had seen an 80% reduction in her migraines. I want to try it too. But I realize that what helps one person will not necessarily help another. i have learned that from the many things I have tried over the years. My advice for others would be to try it. If it doesn’t work, you still have a new piercing. Then there is always the possibility that you could see a significant reduction in your headaches.
18 December 2015 @ 1:13 pm
My 19yo daughter has suffered debilitating migraines since her early preteen. We have tried so many drugs it’s ridiculous. We both saw the faith article and thought why the hell not try it. I believe if anything it might have a placebo effect but if it does then so be it. If it does nothing she gets two new piercings if it makes it worse she takes them out and we try something else. But to try nothing would be failing her. She is booked in today. Time will tell
18 December 2015 @ 1:29 pm
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
18 December 2015 @ 6:52 pm
Thank you for writing this, its good to have a rational, evidence based (or lack of) assessment of the situation. That hasn’t come from the media regarding their reporting on this subject and I agree with your comments there. I have suffered from daily tension-type headache, TMJ and cluster headaches for 12 years. After this amount of time and lack of other effective treatments at present, I’m thinking of giving this a go, even though there’s basically no evidence behind it. Also partly because I would quite like to get a piercing anyway!
19 December 2015 @ 8:45 am
I have suffered from migraines all my adult life (I’m 56) have tried every medication for them known to man. When I get one I am non-functional. I had decided that is not “quality life” to always wonder when one would strike. I felt I could never plan anything because I may have a migraine and when I did they sometimes lasted for several days, then there was the recovery period of several days. They ruled my life. I heard about the daith piercing did a bit of research, saw where some people said it eliminated their migraines completely & others said theirs were much better. I wanted to run to get mine done!! Even if it only helps some it is worth it.
It may not be for every one but it may help some. If it doesn’t help take it out! Please don’t rob those of use who live in hell of the possibility of some relief! Just had to offer my opinion…
20 December 2015 @ 12:22 am
My 35 year old daughter has suffered severe migraines for 20 years now and has tried every medication available. She has went so far as to subject herself to injections in her scalp to no avail. If there is a remote chance this would help her, she will try it. Anyone who has lain in a hospital er for hours on end, who has endured 3 spinal taps and numerous scans and MRI’s will not discount anything to take away the pain. It hurts me as her mother not to be able to help her.
20 December 2015 @ 10:54 am
Like so many others on this thread, I am a long-time migraine sufferer and found the article more annoying than anything else. Like every one else, I will try anything if others have found some relief from it. It takes, years upon years of studies and testing to confirm/disprove a remedy and frankly I doubt the pharmaceutical companies would ever study something like this because it’s a non-drug remedy. Who the hell is ever going to fund something like this? No one. So we have to rely on word-of-mouth, hit-and-miss remedies and alternative remedies. I’m going to do it. ANY would relief would be welcome.
20 December 2015 @ 4:35 pm
I commented on this a couple of weeks ago stating that I was going to get the piercing done and give feedback.
I got it ten days ago and so far it has not helped me whatsoever, I suffer from really painful and frequent cluster headaches and I’m still getting them just as bad, every single day…
I’m not sure if this is because it’s still healing or because it only works on certain people with certain conditions but yeah, the piercing was pretty painful and still aches days after and gave me headaches. It didn’t trigger my cluster headaches but it gave me normal common headaches, it also takes a while to heal, it’s in an awkward place so it’s hard to clean properly and hurts to lie on. It cost me £25 where I got it done and I think that it wasn’t worth it at all…
But, I’m not going to say that I regret it because if I didn’t try, I’d have always wondered and it was worth a try, anything is worth a try to get rid of this pain. I’m also not going to say ‘don’t try it’ because although it hasn’t helped me, it’s helped others so maybe it only works on some people?
21 December 2015 @ 1:25 pm
I’m curious if any of the people that commented in November had this done, and if so what the results are!
22 December 2015 @ 1:15 pm
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 dibilitating 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.
I don’t care if you believe or not but what I do think is that you shouldn’t tell people simply not to try it just because there is no scientific evidence supporting it. If it had not worked for me I would have take. It out and let it heal over. But it’s here to stay.
23 December 2015 @ 1:34 am
I had mine done three almost 4 weeks ago and because I have had no migraines since I had them done the only time I had a slight headache at all was for a few hours yesterday and I took some sudafed because my sinuses were bothering me and it was gone. So after years of meds and an ulcer and botox injections and nothing working, having daily migraines and IV meds to help the pain it is a wonderful life to feel not pain in my head.
23 December 2015 @ 10:55 am
http://mnphysicalmedicine.com/2015/03/02/migraines-and-daith-piercings/
This is a review from a doctor! Thanks!
25 December 2015 @ 4:11 pm
Been looking into this piercing even though my migraines have got a lot better. I have researched into the causes of migraines and made some changes to my lifestyle. I used to get about 10 days worth of migraines/cluster headaches every month for years!! Have found a CURE for me. I have been taking 375mg of high strength magnesium everyday for the last 6 months. It took about one month to work. Suddenly, no migraine, just a mild headache that I could get rid off with paracetomol. Have also reduced the amount of cheese I eat, try only a couple of times a month. No orange juice, fresh is the worst, aaarrrrggggg. Also no dark chocolate. But truely the magnesium has been amazing. Have also been taking vit D 1000units and a multivitamin. But these came after the magnesium.
26 December 2015 @ 4:38 am
I have suffered from migraines for many years as a result of a back injury, these migraines last up to 5 days at a time with minimal relief from anything. I decided to get the daith piercing done after seeing an article about it and the day I had it done I was day 3 into a migraine, within 2 hours of having it done the migraine started to ease without medication and I woke the next morning pain free and have continued to do so ever since. It has been a week since I had it done and no sign of a headache.
26 December 2015 @ 12:19 pm
Can anyone say which side or both? I am very interested in trying this but dont know if you should do one side.
Please help if you know
27 December 2015 @ 1:42 am
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 sems 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.
29 December 2015 @ 12:04 pm
Thank you! So glad to read your comment!
28 December 2015 @ 8:56 am
All,
I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for expressing their opinions and express my solitude with fellow migraine sufferers.
I had tried migraine Triptan medication which had stopped working and had reached chronic levels of migraine suffering, having them so frequently, I felt little or no reprieve and I was left feeling in dire chronic pain and desperate. The condition had become permanently debilitating.
Having tried, meditation, acupunture, nightshade diet, and various other food elimination diets, as well as changing all aspects of my life entirely,a friend sent me an article regarding the daith piercing. I was in a very painful difficult position but I was clear in my desire to overcome the pain, which at times seemed impossible! Again I must express my sincere sympathy for all migraine sufferers. I wanted to write this to advise that whilst the piercing may not work for all sufferers, and I’m so sorry for that, it has worked for me. I feel it is the greatest gift I could ever receive to look into 2016 with hope of a reprieve from migraine suffrage.
It must be noted that as with anything always go to a reputable piercist.
I had the piercing done in November 2015 and along with maintaining a clean diet and avoiding obvious trigger and getting plenty of sleep, I have witnessed my migraines reduce percentage wise by 80%. That for me, has been nothing short of a miracle.
28 December 2015 @ 1:27 pm
I have suffered migraines for the passed two years the were so bad that I felt sick constantly I could not function properly with the pain,sometimes it would feel like Someone was hitting my head constantly with something,I was having them from up to 6-7 days a week ,and on constant pain relief until I was put on medication for migraines this which was put up to 50mg,this helped to reduce the migraines to about 3-4 a month and my poor husband even bought a migraine hat that only made them worse the medication worked for about 6 months ,I started to get the migraines back full force a few weeks ago ,and had one start last Wednesday while out shopping ,I had inquired at a tattoo shop about the piercing as I have had enough of these migraines,the lady was not there at the time that did them but would be in a little while ,my Migraine started to get worse ,so I decided to brave it and go back and have the piercing done ,the lady explained what it would feel like having it done ,she said its like a scratch and you may feel as if you heart is beating in your ear,I laided on the bed and she went ahead and did it ,yes it felt like a slight scratch ,but I didn’t not have the heart beating feeling ,I also have had no pain from the peircing,my migraine that I had when I went in to the tattoo shop had completely gone about a min after I had the peircing done ,I was shocked completely and could not believed it had gone so quick ,normally when I get the start of a migraine I have them a few days after also and then the would settle eventually until the bext one ,since I have had the piercing I have not had a migraine but I have felt a tiny bit of pressure as if one wants to start but it it didn’t start ,today is the first day that I have felt a little more pressure as if the Migraine is going to start but so far it has not got any worse , I am still on my medication and waiting to see if the migraines hold of ,if I keep having a slight pressure or it gets any worse I may get My left daith pierced .
28 December 2015 @ 1:31 pm
enquired sorry phone changed my word above .
28 December 2015 @ 10:08 pm
I’ve had my daith piercings for a little over a month. I’ve had 7 migraines .. Before I had them everyday. I’ve had migraines for 32 years. I’ve tried just about everything.
1 January 2016 @ 12:38 am
I had my diath pierced 2 weeks ago, I have had 1 really bad migraine since having it done but overall I feel I have had less daily headaches. It cost £15 so I figured it was worth a try. I also know someone who had it done for whom it has worked really well and actually got it done mid migraine and the migraine went away, she hasn’t had one now for a month. If it doesn’t work it can always be taken out and allowed to heal over.
2 January 2016 @ 8:47 am
I personally have my rook and daith pierced. I was a suffer of migraines taking hundreds of dollars of medicine a month and nobody could pin point a cause of these migraines. I have spent the money on the piercings and have been migraine free since october. I had a migraine when I went in for the piercing and it was relieved. We have also asked many people who have theirs done. And everyone we know that personally had it does has had the same effect. I stand behind the numerous studies that have been done and will stand behind experience. If you have had migraines as long as I have and lived in misery like I did for a long time,you to would try this instead of bashing it.
4 January 2016 @ 6:50 am
searching social media shouldn’t be your only research for ‘evidence’ for or against anything, and certainly not the basis for an article designed to put people off seeking out alternative remedies for their own health problems. maybe this will help some people? in the same way that acupuncture/accupressure helps some people and not others. a lot of it is to do with belief. the power of the mind is what is actually curing you (prayer, placebo, laughter etc..). spreading negativity isn’t really helpful to anyone. if someone finds relief in an alternative therapy good for them. scepticism is bad for your health and negatively impacts others.
4 January 2016 @ 8:31 am
I went to get the piercing as i suffer from chronic migraines, i usually have them every 2 – 3 days for a day so basically always since i got my piercing 15 days ago i have not had a migraines, i have had a normal headache but no migraines and i can cope with that.
5 January 2016 @ 8:09 am
Has the “targus piercing” actually helped anyone?
5 January 2016 @ 12:10 pm
My 16yr old daughter suffers badly from migraines, since she was 2 and she had her left daith pierced on 2 Dec and her right a week later and has gone from 3-4 migraines a week to 3 a month, no brainer for us, she has tried loads of things, doctors could not come up with anything, so we appreciate the fact this ‘mad’ person wrote the blog and put it out there on social media
5 January 2016 @ 10:33 pm
I have had the daith piercing done for 8 weeks and during that time I went from having a migraine every other day to no migraines at all. I say if you suffer from them than go for it! If it doesn’t help then you can always take it out, but mine has been a life saver and I will recommend it to anyone who asks me about it. Just make sure you go to a professional piercing studio to have it done to prevent infection and follow the aftercare instructions.
8 January 2016 @ 4:45 pm
A couple days ago I got another migraine. I decided that was it! I knew that pain would last until the next day so i decided to go get the piercing. I got it on my left bc thats where my migraines always start. I also got my right tragus while i was there. The tragus didnt hurt much but the daith hurt a bit more bc of the placement. My migraine stopped on the spot!! I dont know if it was bc my ear was sore or it really just worked but so far my head is feeling good! I pray that was my last migraine!
9 January 2016 @ 3:40 am
It wouldn’t be that Big Pharma dont wont a cure for this debilitating condition would it ?
Mmmm I wonder who the author works for ? And obviously not a Migraine sufferer that’s for sure too !
18 January 2016 @ 11:37 pm
Im a migrane sufferer for about 15 years now. I pinch my ears where the daith piercing would be when i start to get a migrane and its always given me relief.
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