Does a simple ear stud really make headaches better? Can it actually work? I had a Daith piercing put in my ear: These are my migraine piercing experiences!
We all know headaches. They can affect people of all ages. Most often help Home remedy for headache quite well. Tablets are also a way to get rid of the throbbing head.
But there are also Headache, the constantly occur. They persist stubbornly for many years. They are called Migraine.
Besides pain, visual disturbances and even severe dizziness can be symptoms of it.
I have migraines at least 2x a month. My head throbs. Everything hurts and I would like to hide in the dark.
What often helps is a headache tablet. But that can't be a permanent solution either.
Some time ago I heard something about a piercing against migraine. It is supposed to help get rid of annoying headaches. But what is really true about the Daith Piercing?
Frankly, it sounds a little too simple to be true. But as someone who is constantly affected by migraine attacks, you also clutch at that straw.
That's why I had this ear piercing done. I'll explain today if it helped me, how piercing works and everything you need to know about it. These are my migraine piercing experiences, for all of you who are thinking about getting one done too!
Table of contents
What is migraine actually and how does the headache develop?
Migraine is a headache that recurs at irregular intervals. Some people have migraines 1-2 times a year. Others even weekly and those who are particularly severely affected even suffer daily.
The head hurts pulsating, throbbing or stabbing. Very often, the headache occurs on one side. However, it may later shift to both sides or move from one side to the other.
There are migraine attacks that last a few hours. Others up to three days.
Affected individuals usually also suffer from loss of appetite, nausea, and sensitivity to light, noise, and odors.
Every movement worsens the symptoms. Sometimes a so-called aura also occurs. Then it can tingle all over the body or you see flashes of light.
Around 12 to 14 % of all women and 6 to 8 % of men suffer from migraine in Germany.
Doctors prescribe pills. Lots of them. I have already tried many. Some even work very well.
But permanently I do not want to have to take tablets. That simply can't be healthy - especially since these particular tablets are very heavily dosed.
Tested and found to be good: CBD oil against headaches!
What does nutrition have to do with migraine?
Did you know that certain nutrients can help prevent migraines? These include magnesium, B vitamins, chromium, copper, iron, calcium and manganese. If you are prone to headaches, you should have your nutrient balance checked with a blood test at least once a year.
You can have this done at any family doctor. Just say that you have frequent migraines and that you would like to have the nutrients all examined in detail.
Since I regularly take capsules containing exactly these nutrients, the pain has actually become less. Unfortunately, they have not disappeared completely, but they are significantly better. As soon as I notice that something is brewing again, I take vitamin supplements.
Migraine piercing: the quick help?
The following lines reflect my migraine piercing experiences. This is not a call for you to get a Daith piercing too! Weigh the pros and cons for yourself and get advice from a doctor!
Migraine piercings are also called "Daith piercing" called. And actually the principle is quite simple. A migraine piercing is a normal ear stud. But what distinguishes it from a classic ear jewelry is the position.
The plug is placed at a very specific point in the ear. To be precise, the piercing is pierced through the innermost bulge of the pinna, right next to the ear canal. Here is an acupuncture point.
If this point is irritated, our body releases relaxing and pain-relieving messenger substances. This is how headaches and migraines are supposed to be defeated.
Acupuncture points have long been known in traditional Chinese medicine. However, they are more commonly known from normal acupuncture sessions where small needles are used. However, these are removed again.
The Migraine piercing remains permanent in the ear.
Depending on which side of the head the migraine occurs or if you have cluster headaches, it makes sense to place the piercing only on one or both sides. This is what my piercer explains to me before the piercing.
Then she measures the acupuncture points in the ear. And off she goes.
Immediately after the migraine piercing, the headache should get better.
For those who are not fans of piercings, there's also good news: the migraine piercing is placed in the ear. Therefore, you can hardly see it.
What speaks against the Daith Piercing
You must know that this is not a medically recognized procedure! However, many sufferers report a clear relief of migraines.
Quite a different opinion is the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG). A statement says: "The procedure is not based on any comprehensible pathophysiological basis".
The professional association is particularly critical of the health risks. In the area of the ear cartilage, wound healing may be delayed. Infections are also said to occur more frequently.
Therefore advises the German Migraine and Headache Society of migraine piercings quite clearly off.
I have to admit that I went to my migraine piercing appointment with skepticism. But honestly, what do I have to lose? From a Migraine piercing to advise against it is simple, if you yourself have never suffered from constantly persistent headaches.
But you should not put all your hopes in a piercing against migraine. It works for some, but not for others.
It is not worth putting all your eggs in one basket, but additionally pay attention to your diet! Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink a lot of water. What I have also noticed with me is that I tend to have a headache after a sugar-rich day.
When it hits me again, only a few painkillers help. Aspirin is absolutely ineffective, and other headache pills don't help either. What I recently discovered for myself, are Dolormin Migraine Film Tablets. It contains 400 mg of ibuprofen and another active ingredient, which fortunately makes the pain more bearable.
My migraine piercing experience
Here I am with a few posts from forums telling of a stud earring that makes headaches go away.
After two days of thinking back and forth, I made the decision: I want to do it with the Migraine piercing try
After all, I have nothing to lose. And one ear stud more or less is not noticed at all :)
Also, I must confess that I have liked this piercing for a long time. I would probably have had it done sooner or later anyway. So at least the migraine has something positive and lets me implement the project more quickly.
Daith piercing - Does it hurt?
I was already quite afraid of the sting. You read different opinions - from harmless to very painful.
But the desire for relief is greater than the fear. So with wobbly knees I sit on the piercing chair. My piercer takes away my fear by offering me an ointment. This is supposed to have an anesthetic effect and make the pain more bearable. Yes, always here with it :-)
She slips on her gloves and applies the cream to my ear.
Then she explains to me how piercing works. She would rather not have explained that to me.
There are two options - the familiar pricking with a needle and punching out a hole. In the second method, a piece of cartilage is punched out with a hollow needle, similar to a hole punch.
I now blame my sweats on the warm weather :-). And take another deep breath.
When she takes action, my heart almost slips into my pants. My hands clasp the back of the chair. A small prick announces the big, expected pain. But then... nothing.
"Done, you did it." Excuse me? Except for a little pressure, I felt almost nothing. I thought the good lady was pulling my leg. But when she takes the bloody swabs out of my ear, I believe her that something happened. After a few minutes and a care instruction later everything was over. She finishes by telling me that a Daith piercing tends to be one of the most painful. It's a good thing she's just saying that now.
So from my side, I can say that it doesn't hurt at all. However, this is different for everyone, of course. The sensation of pain is individual and also depends on whether and which anesthetic ointment is used.
Over the next few hours, my ear hurts a bit. But it is in any case well endured, although it pumps properly. Only in the night I wake up plagued by pain - oops, I grabbed my ear while sleeping. Then it's no wonder.
The next few days are also very painless. Thank God!
How does the piercing feel against migraine?
During the pricking you feel a slight basic pain and also a pressure on the ear. However, this passes very quickly in the course of the day. Otherwise, the small plug is very inconspicuous.
Due to the positioning, you can hardly feel or see it. You only have to be a bit careful when using ear sticks and in-ear headphones.
In the first months the piercing rod is still a little longer. It may be that the cartilage swells. But then it can be exchanged for a shorter one. Sparkling stones are also possible :-)
Really chic it looks, however, if you use a beautiful ring as a piercing. I'm really looking forward to it - then you can see the piercing more.
But unfortunately you have to wait 9 to 12 months for it. The piercing must be completely healed to be able to insert a ring. This is because the curvature of the ring is stronger than that of the rod and thus irritates the wound canal.
How quickly does the migraine piercing heal?
This also varies from person to person. Basically, the piercing unfortunately heals very slowly. This is due to the fact that a cartilage is poorly supplied with blood. And this in turn affects the healing of the wound. So here you need to have patience.
My piercer advises me to clean the wound channel 2x a day with a disinfecting solution in the beginning. After a few weeks you should watch the piercing closely.
So-called game meat is often formed on cartilage. But believe me, you'd better not google it. It looks quite unappetizing. But with special solutions from the pharmacy you get the problem quickly under control.
After 9 to 12 months at the latest, the piercing should be healed. Then you can also have a pretty ring inserted.
What migraine piercing experiences have others had?
Now, of course, I'm interested in what other sufferers report. I comb through a few forums and look around in other experience reports about the Daith Piercing.
In short, most state that their headaches and migraine attacks were less intense after the piercing. Violent attacks with nausea and sometimes even fainting became normal headaches.
However, a few people also report that they have not noticed any changes after piercing. And others have the feeling that the effect of the piercing wears off over time. Well, I'm curious to see what happens to me.
Does the piercing really help against migraine?
And now for the most important question in my migraine piercing experience: is it worth the effort or not?
Week 1: I already had a slight headache during the piercing. After the piercing they were gone - but I blamed that more on the fear of piercing.
Week 2: I only had a slight headache once during the rest of the week. Good to bear. Strangely enough, not on the right as always, but on the left. There, where I am not pierced. But I also believe in coincidence here. I am curious about the next weeks, especially the week before my period. That's when I especially like to have migraines.
Week 3: Now it has struck after all. Mild headache over the weekend and then Monday migraine. I woke up in the morning with a throbbing pain on the side where the piercing was pierced. But the attack passed pretty quickly. The end of the Daith piercing? No, I don't give up hope yet.
Week 4-5: More than a month has passed since the piercing. I am still relatively undecided. I feel as if my migraine attacks have become easier. In the 5 weeks I have only had one attack. I used to have a lot more of them and especially they were really intense. The brutal migraine attacks that brought me to my knees have now become mild headaches.
I would say that the piercing has helped me well overall for migraines. It has changed the migraine attacks into simple headaches. And that is already a huge success for me!
My conclusion
Even if it is not scientifically recognized, a migraine piercing is worth a try in my opinion. However, you must of course be aware of the risks.
My migraine attacks are not completely gone. But they have become lighter and less frequent.
Purely visually, the Daith piercing is not noticeable at all, if you choose a very simple plug. If you want, you can of course replace it after some time with more beautiful piercings. I am already looking forward to a little heart in my ear :)
I hope I could help you a bit with my migraine piercing experience and wish you all the best!
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