Migraines are no joke. Affecting around 1 in 7 people the disease causes a throbbing sensation to the front or side of the head which can last for hours and up to days.... It can also cause increased sensitivity to light, nausea, blind spots and tingling in the limbs.
But there seems to be a growing trend for sufferers to combat this blasted awful pain in the head, by using a daith piercing to replicate the effects of acupuncture. Too good to be true? We decided to put on our Sherlock hats and investigate.
The Cause & The Cure
First of all let's get things straight. There is no absolute "cure" for migraines. In fact, doctors are not even 100% sure what happens within our bodies during these attacks. Currently some of the most effective ways to mitigate the symptoms comes from alternative management tools such as stress-relief, diet and acupuncture.
Daith Piercing
The daith cartilage is located in the inner ear. It has long been a location targeted by acupuncturists to help leviate headaches. It works by stimulating nerves under the skin and muscle, resulting in the body to produce natural pain-relieving substances such as endorphins.
Cut the bull, does it actually work? Although there are no concrete scientific evidence between daith piercing and migraine relief, many sufferers who are using the piercing as a long term acupuncture solution to manage their pain have come forward to share its benefits. They have reported a drop in both the frequency and the intensity of attacks.
However, what works for some may not work for others as shown by an anonymous survey conducted by Carl Cincinato at MigrainePal. Of the 380 surveyees who tried daith piercing for the treatment of migraines, 47% found it beneficial while 48% found the frequency of migraines remained the same. Talk about 50/50....
Conclusion
If you're all out of options we think the daith piercing method is definitely worth a try. Beating migraine and gaining a cute AF piercing at the same time? Yes please! However, we recommend you to do some Sherlocking of your own before jumping the gun as there are pros and cons that need to be weighed according to the individual.
Pinch & Fold's Daith Jewellery:
We offer a wide range of piercings suitable for the Daith Cartilage. Below are some popular examples:
