Alternative methods of healing and medicine have been growing in popularity over the last decade or so. A few of the more common types are acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, and reflexology. People are willing to try some of these alternative methods instead of popping a daily pill. While advances in medicine are a wonderful thing, taking a pill isn’t always a preferred option.  Some medications come with lengthy side effects that can lead to having to take even more medication.

​

A couple years back I was put on medication that had migraines as a side effect. When I started the medication, I would get a migraine here and there. Eventually, that turned into a couple a week, and then every other day. I was in a ton of pain, so I would take Advil and other pain relievers to get through the day.

​

Advil and other pain relievers, also known as NSAIDS are okay to take once in a while but not on a daily basis. Because I needed to stay on my other medication, I started to look into other ways I could reduce my migraines. After many hours of googling, I came across the daith piercing. The daith is located right outside your inner ear above the ear canal. As it turns out, there are many acupuncture points on the ear that help reduce migraines and other health issues.

​

This particular piercing isn’t exactly acupuncture, yet it is believed to work in a similar way. While a lot of people have claimed that the piercings have alleviated their pain, many acupuncture professionals say the daith isn’t the spot they would choose to medicate. There is a lot of speculation about whether or not this piercing actually works or if reading up on the facts creates a placebo effect. There is so little research devoted to migraines to begin with, so it’s hard to say whether this practice is actually effective.

​

With this research and nothing to lose, I started looking for a professional piercing shop. I figured that even if it didn’t take care of my migraines it would at least look cool. However, I did want to make sure the piercer knew what they were doing. Another one of the most common issues with this piercing is risk of infection because of placement. Because it is tucked away in the ear it is also harder for the piercer to access, which could result in a bad piercing and even more pain. Once I found a reputable shop, I went and got the piercing the same day.

​

I got my piercing done in August, so about 9 months ago, and I have had 2 migraines since. The piercing itself didn’t hurt at all but it was a little sore for about 2 weeks after. This piercing was one of the best decisions I have made. Going from a migraine every other day to 2 in 9 months has to say something about this piercing’s effectiveness. Of course, everyone’s body is different, and you’ll have to find what works best for you.

​

Because of the lack of research, migraine support groups have forums online where others have shared their experiences with daith piercings and other natural remedies. But, the most important takeaway is to make sure the piercer knows what they are doing - you wouldn’t want to create even more pain for yourself than you have to.