If you are suffering from the New Year’s Blues, or just looking for a New Year’s Look, a Daith piercing just might be what the doctor ordered.
A Daith piercing is located in the innermost fold of your ear. Some people believe that this piercing can help ease anxiety-related migraines and other symptoms. Although the evidence is primarily anecdotal, there’s some research around the piercing’s proposed mechanism of action.
Your ear is home to several of the pressure points that acupuncturists and other holistic health practitioners stimulate to
alleviate headaches. These pressure points target the vagus nerve. This is the longest of the 10 nerves extending from the bottom of your brain into the rest of your body. In theory, getting a Daith piercing will place constant pressure on your vagus nerve. Some health conditions, like depression and epilepsy, have been proven to respond to vagus nerve stimulation. Research to see if stimulating this nerve can treat other conditions is ongoing.
So far, any information we have about using a Daith piercing to treat anxiety is anecdotal. There haven’t been any clinical trials or exploratory studies on this piercing and its purported effects. But a clinical case can be made for using acupuncture to treat anxiety and migraines. Several studies have concluded that acupuncture is a “promising” treatment for panic attacks. Although a panic attack is different from an anxiety attack, many of the symptoms are the same. This includes migraines and other headaches, chest pain, and nausea.
There’s also a tentative connection between acupuncture and piercings. Daith piercings sit at roughly the same position as a pressure point that acupuncturists target to treat migraines. This piercing theoretically provides the same benefits. Due to growing anecdotal support, a 2017 case study called for more research into the use of Daith piercings as a medical treatment.
There’s a lot to consider before getting a Daith piercing. The piercing can be painful for some. It takes longer to heal than other ear piercings. If you ever decide to let the piercing close, a small (though visible) mark will be left behind. Cartilage piercings are also more likely to get infected than lobe piercings. This may be because cartilage piercings are in closer proximity to your hair and are more likely to get tugged. There’s also the risk that your piercing won’t work for anxiety. Although anecdotal evidence suggests a Daith piercing could relieve your symptoms, there’s no way to know for sure unless you try it yourself.
If you decide to move forward, make sure that you choose a reputable piercing shop like Orbit Skate and Boutique. Your potential piercer can answer any questions about the piercing as well as advise you on immediate and long-term care. -HealthLine
