Daith piercings and migraines: what do the studies say?

Do you often get headaches? Have you heard about daith piercings for migraine relief? Here is what the available evidence actually tells us. 

At Solstice, we specialise in jewellery for healed ear piercings, so we take a close interest in questions like this.

Located inside the ear, near the ear canal, a daith piercing is stylish and discreet. However, its effectiveness as a migraine treatment has not been demonstrated.

In this article, you will discover:

• Whether daith piercings are effective against migraines
• Where and how to get your cartilage pierced
• Interesting opinions and personal accounts

Let's get started!

Where is the daith on the ear?

Increasingly popular, the daith ear piercing passes through a fold of cartilage shaped like a comma in the middle of the outer ear. It sits just above the ear canal. The daith is next to the tragus, the small flap of cartilage on the surface of the ear that you press when there is too much noise.

Take care not to confuse the daith with the antihelix. The daith piercing sits below the antihelix and the rook, another fold of cartilage.

Discreet yet stylish, this piercing brings out your individuality and elegance. A hoop or horseshoe barbell is often worn here. A well-placed hoop can look as though its lower curve emerges directly from the ear.

Although some people choose it in the hope of relieving migraines, its effectiveness has not been proven, as we explain below. Many people simply choose a daith piercing for its look or its personal meaning.

 

What causes migraines?

Before examining the evidence on daith piercings and migraines, let's look at the symptoms and management of this condition.

Migraine causes and symptoms 

Migraine is a neurological condition that can cause painful, disabling attacks. It cannot be explained simply by the widening of blood vessels. 

It may involve sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting. Tension headaches are a different type of headache.

Migraine triggers vary from person to person. If you are trying to identify a pattern, a headache diary can be useful.

There are several forms of migraine, including migraine with visual aura, which can involve visual disturbances before the headache.

Current medical treatments

Treatment depends on the type of attacks, their frequency and your medical history. Diagnosis and treatment choices require a medical assessment.

A doctor or pharmacist can advise you on appropriate treatment for your situation.

For preventive migraine treatment, a doctor may suggest options based on your symptoms and medical history. Keeping a diary can also help track how your attacks change over time.

The information above and below is not medical advice and must never replace advice from a medical professional. Consult a neurologist or GP, and be mindful of medication overuse. 

Natural ways to ease headaches

Resting in a quiet, dimly lit room, drinking water and placing a cold cloth on your forehead may offer comfort during an attack. 

In general, choose a quiet, dark space and consider gently massaging your scalp and practising relaxation and meditation.

 

Daith piercings for migraines

Let's get to the heart of the subject. If you are reading this article, this is probably the section that interests you most. Daith piercings are claimed to help with migraines by acting on an acupuncture point in the ear. But is that true?

Why the acupuncture hypothesis is not enough

Acupuncture uses needles as part of a therapeutic protocol. A permanent piercing in the cartilage is a different procedure.

Results from acupuncture studies therefore cannot be applied to piercings.

But how does this relate to daith piercings and migraines?

The idea that jewellery provides continuous stimulation does not demonstrate any effect on migraine frequency or intensity.

The scientific review published in Headache in 2024 examines one retrospective study and three case reports; no clinical trials were found in the search conducted up to September 2023. It does not support daith piercings as a treatment.

A placebo effect or natural changes in attacks may contribute to reported improvements; a personal account alone cannot establish their cause.

Placement depends on the anatomy of the ear, rather than any proven effect against migraines. 

Surveys of people with piercings cannot, on their own, establish effectiveness.

Personal accounts and opinions: do daith piercings really help with migraines?

The older survey figures quoted on migrainebuddy.com are not enough to assess medical benefit, and anecdotes or unsourced percentages cannot show that a treatment works.

Online personal accounts can be interesting to read, but they remain anecdotal and cannot establish whether a daith piercing affects migraines.

Should you choose a side based on your migraines?

There is no evidence to recommend a particular side for a piercing to treat migraine. An attack diary may, however, be useful to your doctor.

When it comes to where to get your daith pierced, our advice is clear: avoid jewellery shops and choose a professional piercer.

For cartilage piercings, avoid places that use a piercing gun. This type of equipment can damage cartilage and increase the risk of complications.

Choose an experienced professional piercer who follows strict hygiene standards, including sealed equipment, a sterile needle and gloves. Arrange an initial visit to ask questions and confirm that your anatomy is suitable for the piercing.

The alleged medical benefits of daith piercings

The aesthetic appeal of a daith piercing must not be confused with a medical effect. The American Migraine Foundation's advice discourages its use as a treatment.

Stress and stomach aches: do not promise a therapeutic effect

Claims that daith piercings affect stress or stomach aches were not supported by identifiable studies in this article; they are not endorsed.

The proposed link between the jewellery and the solar plexus is not an established clinical explanation.

Risks and drawbacks

As with any cartilage piercing, there are several risks and drawbacks. First, having your ear cartilage pierced can be painful. The pain can feel like a brief, intense pinch. The sensation may feel unusual if you are not used to it, and may ease quickly before giving way to general tenderness that can last several days. 

Daith healing takes several months and varies from person to person. Two months cannot guarantee complete healing. Follow the aftercare instructions given by your piercer:

• Avoid touching the area unnecessarily
• Clean your piercing with saline solution as directed during your aftercare
• Avoid activities that pose a risk, such as swimming and sport
• Do not sleep on the piercing

Infection and irritation are possible. If you think your piercing may be infected, seek prompt medical advice and leave the jewellery in place unless a doctor tells you to remove it.

If you want a daith piercing for its appearance, choose a qualified piercer who will assess your anatomy. Do not spend money on it expecting a migraine treatment.

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