Daith Piercing for Migraine

Daith Piercing for migraine ...... does it work ?

Author Richard Soper MAS CEO of Daith Medical Ltd

This is a fascinating subject and often misunderstood by doctors, neurologist, acupuncturists, and body piercers. Some looking for answers of how this works and other just blindly giving derogatory reasons to say it does not work or is a placebo effect. However, over the last couple of years there are quite a few GP’s recommending this. In fact, I am getting regular referrals to both my Harley Street and Sussex clinics from GP’s and alternative therapy practices in the UK, Europe and the USA

Daith Piercing by Daith Medical Ltd
Can you see how it works yet Doc ?

So how does this work for migraines ?

The NEMOS device (distributed by tVNS Technologies)

The therapy that this emulates is called “Auricular stimulation of the Vagus Nerve” This is a well know response therapy normally done using an external electrical impulse in the region of inner tragus, upper ear passage (daith area) Picture show Nemos, there are other trunk devices such as Gamma core which was being trailed by UK government through GP surgeries these are held externally on the neck (trunk) of the Vagus nerve. (Device shown below

Gamma Core Trunk Device. Stimulating the trunk of the Vagus Nerve
The most successful direct Vagus Nerve Stimulation is an implant, there are different names of brands making this. It is mainly used for Epilepsy and averages around a 40/50% reduction in epileptic attacks, it also reduces migraines for epileptics as they can also be migraineurs. As we know epileptic drugs such as Topiramate are often given to migraine sufferers as well.
Implant Vagus Nerve Stimulator used for Epilepsy
Showing the Auricular branch of the Vagus Nerve

Now this is where it gets complicated as Auricular Acupuncture also stimulates nerve endings and is a microsystem using 200 points on each ear, to correspond with points on the body. Each point triggers electrical impulses to the brain affecting the specific are of the body. Acting as a switchboard to the brain and releasing endorphins blocking pain receptors to the brain

Then there is the Vagus Nerve itself. The direct actions of the vagus nerve are the responsibility for the peristaltic wave of the gut and the gag reflex. Flight and Flight response telling us what to do when we are attacked but more so than this it is a protective decision maker for both physical and mental actions and responses from others.

This Vagus nerve is also an internal healing system for the body, dealing with organ and body neurological needs and chemical responses to those needs

Auricular acupuncture is also know to give a vagal nerve stimulation, using points such as Chen Men, Zero, Occiput, Adrenal. Zero is the nearest known, holistic (overall) point and is approx a third of the way along the Crus of the helix and in acupuncture is penetrated from the ridge of the helix crus (root). The point I look for is closer to the head. In acupuncture terms the crus of helix strengthens all of the other points and is an overall holistic area.
all possible ear points for piercing
Auricular acupuncture practice ear.
My theory is that with a skilful placement (similar to acupuncture itself) the cluster of vagus nerve endings can be stimulated or tickled, making the well place piece of jewellery act as a constant vagus nerve therapy or a continuous acupuncture treatment. Smiling, movement, talking, blinking or any movement of the face or head can give a small amount of stimulation, and this creates a chain reaction: Vagus nerve tells body to calm down, signal to the brain tells pituitary gland to release chemicals acetylcholine which in turns prompts other chemicals like oxytocin, vasopressin, and prolactin to be secreted.
The result is a calming of neurological issues and a relax of muscles. For migraine specifically, occipital and trigeminal nerve and the surrounding muscle the upper trapezium, sternocleidomastoid, masseter, occipitofrontalis (occipital and frontal portions) seem to be quick responders. A slower calming the general muscular system of the body and a gut and gag reflex relax. This is normally an instant effect followed within 2/7 days by a accommodations response, which appears to lesson the feeling of relax to some degree. Depending of how well this has been triggered and the persons response ability is may hold for many years. This is show by people who have had a daith piercing for 7/8 years when they take it out can feel an immediate tension or migraine response. (This is common). There are also people who will not get a big enough response to give any significant help. It is very hard to measure this. Many people have written this off because they have not had any response or someone they know has not, therefore as far as they are concerned “it does not work”. Most months I see several people with the piercing already. I simple take it out and start again. This also means that although this is effective for migraine and tension headache it is also a powerful therapy for many other disorders such as:  Dysphagia, Tinnitus, Epilepsy, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression, Neck tension, Shoulder tension, Sinusitis, Long covid, Vertigo, Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, IBS, Endometriosis, Bells Pawsey, stroke rehabilitation, mental health issues such as Bi-Polar. This creates another issue of suitability. For example, I would not pierce someone with severe autism as they may get irritated and pull on the piercing. It now becomes a question of risk assessment. Issue such as, age, sleeping, pets, swimming, lifestyle other illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease all need to be taken into consideration.

So does a piercing cause all of this ??

A daith piercing is normally done for cosmetic purpose and most piercers who advocate this for migraine are doing their own version of a cosmetic piercing, sometimes with tweaks to make it nearer point zero, deeper sometimes. Just doing a piercing and hoping for the best, can quite often can have extraordinary outcomes and can also have very disappointing outcomes. I recently saw a point zero piercing done with a 1.6 bar that was causing so much pain and this was done by a so-called top London Migraine Clinic
Those who wish to power the “what a load of rubbish will listen to the negatives and ignore the positives” mostly not wanting to hear, proof, reviews, remarkable results.

I did this facebook survey in 2017


473 responses from 474 people who answered yes I had a daith piercing for migraine.
Question 14 is

What happened with your migraines or headaches when your daith was pierced? Nearest answer please.

• Answered: 473
• Skipped: 1

ANSWER CHOICES– RESPONSES–

I have not has any more migraines or headaches since the piercing 24.74%
117

I have had very few migraines or headaches since the piercing 39.96%
189

I can now cope without taking and medication and this is a great improvement 6.55%
31

I have noticed some major positive effects 12.26%
58

I have noticed some minor positive effects 6.13%
29

No change 8.88%
42

Migraines got a bit worse 1.06%
5

Migraines got a lot worse 0.42%
2
TOTAL 473

The whole survey is published on my website www.daith.com


There is of course an alternative and am a researcher and practitioner of The Medical Daith Piercing. For me a medical daith piercing means done by someone with medical malpractice insurance who will risk assess the patient in an appropriate manner, offer advice, and understand the issues of the client. I am also an Auricular Acupuncturist meaning a qualified ear acupuncturist. What I do will make sense to you once you have read my Google reviews. It is a pre-tested assessment of you, your issues and the use of this holistic therapy reinforced with an appropriate acupuncture protocol. When you go to a doctor, or neurologist you are getting a brilliantly qualified medical mind who will target the issues you have come for which may be migraine. They may not look and assess you, they will assess your issues and prescribe accordingly. I however assess you and take into account for example a migraines neck and shoulder pain, insomnia, ptsd issues, anxiety, long neck, forward posture, misalignments of the spine family history, work, children, hobbies, exercise regime. We talk about a whole host of possible contributing factors and then work out the best way forward.
Richard Soper Daith Mediacal

A specialist who carefully test all of the response points and uses auricular acupuncture to enhance the therapy. This takes some time, but the response speaks for itself.

Written by Richard Soper MAS CEO of Daith Medical Ltd practitioner and researcher of the Daith Piercing for medical purpose. Graduate of the London School of Auricular Acupuncture and the Homewood School of Reflexology

Daith Piercing for Migraine
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