By Emilyn Gil
My typical migraine treatment is rather simple. Shut the door, close the blinds, turn off the light, and lie in fetal position with an ice-pack to my head and the trash can nearby in case of vomiting; praying for sleep to come. If you’re a fellow migraine sufferer, you may have a similar or worse experience.
Hours of throbbing pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting. There is nothing enjoyable about getting a migraine, and for some people it’s a constant struggle to just get through the day.
One form of chronic migraine relief that has gained a lot of attention recently is an inner ear piercing. For some migraine patients, including myself, the daith piercing has served as the much needed holistic method of relief as opposed to medication.
The Daith Piercing And Auricular Acupuncture
This chronic migraine cure is also known as auricular acupuncture, or auriculotherapy. Auricular acupuncture is based off of the theory that the ear is a microsystem of the body, meaning that each part of the body corresponds with a particular part of the outer ear. Similar to other acupuncture methods, auricular acupuncture uses certain pressure points in the ear to relieve pain or side affects from certain conditions or disorders.
The daith, commonly pierced for aesthetic purposes, is the area of the ear that hits the same pressure point that auricular acupuncture does in order to relieve migraines. If you are wanting to avoid migraine medication, or have found medication unsuccessful, the daith piercing is one inexpensive option to help relieve your symptoms. And it doubles as jewelry as well! (1)
Does The Piercing Really Work?
Although there is still little scientific data behind it, the daith peircing has shown to reduce migraine frequency and intensity in many people who suffer from chronic migraines. A large number of people have come forward in social media with a positive experience, and some doctors recommend it as well. (2)
If you are considering going in for daith piercing yourself, there are a few things you should know.
1. Everyone’s Experience Is Different
As miraculous and wonderful as it would be, the bottom line is that the piercing might not work for you. Everyone’s migraine experience is different, and your body may react to certain treatments differently than others. The daith piercing is just the same. On the other hand, daith piercings are fairly inexpensive, so if you are running out of treatment options, it is definitely worth a try.
2. Know Which Side To Pierce
If your migraines are most often or more prominently on one side of your head, make sure to pierce that same side. If you get them equally on both sides of your head, then it’s really up to you which ear you would like to pierce. Some people get both sides pierced as well, for good measure. Although if you choose to pierce both sides I would recommend to not pierce them at the same time. Daith piercings can take a few months to heal, so it is best to let one side heal before moving to the other, especially if you favor sleeping on one side.
3. The Effects May Not Be Immediate Or Complete
There are many people who report feeling immediate relief from a migraine as soon as they pierced their daith. For me however, and many others, the results were not so immediate. In fact, it took about three weeks until I noticed any difference at all in my migraines. You may have to be patient in order to see results. And although a perfect cure would be amazing, most often the daith piercing will simply reduce the severity and/or frequency of your migraines, rather than completely rid you of them. In my personal experience, my migraines went from about four a week to one a week. Although it’s not perfect, it’s definitely an improvement I can live with.
Pay Attention To Your Body
To put it most simply, migraines are a real pain – pun intended. With the right balance of treatment and a healthy lifestyle, however, are manageable. Make sure to really pay attention to and listen to your body for what it needs. Making sure to keep anxiety and stress at a minimum, get enough sleep, eat wholesome foods, and exercise are all essentials when it comes to not only keeping migraines in check, but also maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
