Does daith piercing work? In the absence of studies, we look to the community for answers and insights about the migraine piercing.
The daith piercing first gained internet fame over a year ago, but unlike most fad treatments it refuses to fade as a hot topic. This is due in part to the sheer number of testimonials available — with a wide range of experiences with the ear piercing for migraines.
Even while the internet and migraine community buzz about the possibility of a simple treatment like an ear piercing that can relieve migraine symptoms, most physicians and major nonprofits are skeptical at best.
How does it work? Simply put, the daith ear piercing is done on a very specific point on a fold of cartilage in the ear called the daith.
The theory behind the ear piercing for migraine prevention is rooted in acupuncture. The spot on the fold of cartilage that is pierced is supposed to line up with an acupuncture pressure point that links to the digestion system.
According to a 2020 case report in the medical journal Cureus, "Daith piercing is a form of ear piercing located at the crux of the helix of the ear. While the esthetic piercing of the crux of the helix of the ear has been seen in various cultures around the world, the term 'daith piercing' (from Hebrew: דעת da’at: knowledge) originated in alternate lifestyle communities in the 1990s."
Western medicine is skeptical that an ear piercing can prevent migraine attacks or relieve migraine pain. Unfortunately, there have been no clinical studies on the piercing to date, so there is little scientific evidence outside of anecdotes to back it up as a migraine treatment.
Robert Cowan, MD, FAAN, professor of neurology and chief of the headache division at Stanford University, told Migraine Again,
"There is no evidence of which I am aware that supports the use of daith piercing for migraine. There is a very specific acupuncture point on the ear that has to to with the digestive system but it is very tiny and very specific. The hole you make with a piercing is like using a steam shovel for a fence post. There have been no positive double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies to provide clinical support and there is no scientific data to suggest a reason it should work."
Even so, migraine symptoms drive us to try crazier things than an ear piercing, and the lack of clinical evidence is not stopping many, many people with migraine from giving it a shot.
"The only positive support I have heard has been anecdotal," said Dr. Cowan. "This usually means that the perceived benefit is [due to a] placebo [effect]. There would be nothing wrong with that if the procedure were safe. In general, all migraine studies have a high placebo rate, so this is not surprising."
For many, the cost/benefit seems attractive: for $40 to $50 per piercing, it's less expensive and no more painful than other needle-based therapies (Botox, nerve blocks, injectable triptans, acupuncture) we've tried for migraine relief. But daith piercings can take a long time to heal and run the risk of infection.
If you are curious to see if your daith could influence your migraines, try acupuncture first. An acupuncturist can even place a stud on the pressure point on your daith that you can wear for a few weeks to gauge the effect.
Cowan agrees:
The main risk is infection, of course, and I have seen several cases where the piercing has been perceived to have worsened the frequency and severity of migraine. I do not recommend it, and when someone brings it up, I direct them to consider acupuncture, ayurvedic, behavioral, and other less conventional approaches if that is the direction they are most comfortable with and that have solid evidence and better risk/benefit ratios.
Before you book an appointment at your local piercing studio, read the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly truth about the power of Daith piercings to relieve pain and migraine symptoms from real people in our community. These daith piercing reviews for migraines will help you make an informed decision.
Daith Piercing for Migraine Reviews: The Good
With the question is there really a piercing that helps with migraine attacks? buzzing so loudly around the internet, we decided to put it to the largest, most brilliant group of people with migraine we know: the Migraine Again Facebook community.
We've received more than 60 responses from real people — many of whom are pleased with their daith ear piercing.
Reduced migraine frequency so far. "Over the last year, I've had both daiths pierced. I have gone from 5 to12 migraines a month to I've had 4 since October I actually needed my meds for." —Jennifer H.
"I've suffered from migraines since a head trauma when I was 10. I use yoga, breathing exercises and lots of prayer as no meds ever really helped and I got too many side effects. I choose to get the ear piercing for migraines in both ears about 2 months ago and I'm thrilled so far. When I first notice my aura coming I manipulate my ears and do acupressure and I've only had one mild migraine rather than two or three a week. I'm still waiting for a major one to hit for the full test but so far so good." — Theresa H.
"Found both acupuncture and the migraine piercing helpful. Neither was a cure, of course. I have diligently used Migraine Buddy for over a year, and have had the piercing over three months. Per my Migraine Buddy records, intensity, frequency, severity, and prescription meds have all happily declined by 40% to 50 % with the daith. One thing I learned is that the piercing alone isn't the key...I had to learn to manipulate/massage/pull on it at the first sign of an attack." — Kathryn M.
Some are even migraine free. "Had migraines since elementary school. Got both ears done with the daith ear piercing in December 2016 and have since come off of Topiramate 200 mg daily. No migraines since having it done. Wish I would've done it sooner. The place I had mine done offered numbing to have piercings done, didn't hurt at all." — Crystal B.
"I've had migraines for 35 years. They usually last a week at a time, even with medication. I had my left daith pierced November 2016. I went from two to three migraines a month to none. I tried pressure on both daiths during an attack and noticed a decrease in pain when I had pressure on the left side. No difference in pain with pressure on the right. I decided it was worth a shot and have not been disappointed." — Julie
"I have gotten the daith ear piercing and I've been migraine free for 3 1/2 months." — Lisa C.
Daith Piercing Reviews: The Bad
Even while some people noticed results with the migraine piercing, many noticed no results, slight results, or only temporary improvement. The following daith piercing reviews for migraines show the negative side.
Relief was only temporary: "It worked for a month or so while there was built-up pressure from the healing of a new piercing. When it was fully healed, it no longer worked the same. But, it provided relief for a few months." —Hannah S.
"The migraine piercing worked at first. Not after it healed. Oh well, I like the piercing anyway." — Julie L.
Looks cool, but didn't help. "I had both ears done with the ear piercing for migraines — no relief at all for hemiplegic migraines but my migraines are atmosphere-related not digestive. I wish I had read this before I tried it. I know someone who had great results. If you're not sure I would try it and if nothing else you'll have a "hip" piercing. Seeing an acupuncturist first is a very good suggestion." — Kimberley G.
"The daith piercing helped slightly. I get better pain relief from occipital nerve block shots." — Joy L.
"Daith piercing didn't work for me. Acupuncture is next for me. Am forever hopeful that something will work." — Lis M.
"Got the ear piercing for headaches; it's just pretty, didn't help at all." — Angela M.
"I have Chiari and daily chronic migraines...got the daith and unfortunately didn't help one bit." — Tanya B.
"Had it done about a year ago. Didn't hurt to have the piercing done but did not help. I thought it was worth the $40.00 to give it a try. If you are considering it, don't let my experience keep you from trying it because it might help you. I don't have just regular headaches...I have chronic migraines and my three sisters have migraines, too. We inherited them." — Cindy P.
Daith Piercing Reviews: The Ugly
Are daith piercings dangerous? Not quite, but they do come with risks, of course.
The piercing process itself can be painful, and the area can remain tender for weeks while it heals. As with any piercing, the daith piercing also carries a risk of infection. For a few of the people who wrote in, the experience was unpleasant:
Expect pain. "No daith piercing for me. I'm too scared." — Judy B.
They can close up if the jewelry is removed. "Tried both daith piercing and acupuncture, no relief for me with either. Had to take the daith piercings out for an MRI and they closed over anyway. Even though they didn't work I was going to keep them because they were cute, but as a migraine sufferer you're always having tests and removing jewelry anyway!" — Peta H.
It might make it worse, or disappoint. " I did not receive any relief from my headache piercing, in fact, I think it made them worse. I had it for 10 days, had migraines for most of those days and ended up taking it out because it was just the most terrible headaches I have ever had. Not to mention I had a rejection and now two weeks after having it removed I am still having migraines every day and there is pressure on the inside of my ear. I got mine pierced at a reputable establishment where they do thousands of these yearly. It is all about your individual anatomy, I'm not too sure there is a cure for migraines. Good luck to anyone who has had results, I hope it continues for you and you have relief." — Sharon P.
"Got both daiths pierced. Did not work. I was so hopeful, too. I got them both removed. Pointless having them." —Amanda T.
Do Daith Piercings Work on Migraine Pain or Is It Placebo Effect?
As with any decision regarding your health, the final verdict on whether the daith piercing is right for you ultimately lies with you. It would be wonderful if there was more data-driven information available on the migraine piercing, but that requires funding for double-blind placebo studies that isn't planned at this time. Alternative treatments do have a place in headache medicine but healthcare providers are unlikely to recommend this procedure in the absence of medical research.
Until then, these reviews for daith piercings offer anecdotal evidence that can help you make an informed decision with your doctor. An ear piercing that helps with migraine attacks is an unlikely silver bullet to treat migraine, but stranger things have happened.
