Daith Piercing For Anxiety And Migraine Relief: Stimulating The Vagus Nerve

Research suggests that more than 31% of US adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. While common, this type of mental health condition can be serious, potentially having significant negative effects on a person’s daily functioning, work, relationships, and overall well-being. That said, there are a variety of treatments available that may help reduce symptoms of anxiety and/or improve a person’s ability to cope with them. 

What is a daith piercing and why is it linked to anxiety? 

While talk therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes are some of the most commonly cited and research-supported methods, alternative therapy types have received increased interest as well. One of these other potential treatments is the daith piercing for anxiety. There’s anecdotal evidence that a daith piercing, sometimes called an anxiety piercing, can relieve stress and reduce anxiety. Here, we’ll explore what it is, the limited scientific research available on its effectiveness, acupuncture knowledge that may explain the effect of daith piercings, and advice for seeking professional support for anxiety symptoms.

What is the daith piercing for anxiety symptoms and migraine-related pain?

There are many different places where the ear can be pierced, and the daith is one of the less common ear piercings possible. A daith piercing for anxiety is done at the innermost cartilage fold of the ear. Since this innermost fold is somewhat difficult to reach, getting to this part of the ear necessitates a professional piercer’s use of a curved needle and incredible precision. 

The first person to perform a daith piercing is reported to be Erik Dakota. His first client for this piercing was a woman who named the piercing “da’at,” or daith, meaning knowledge. Daith piercings can usually only be performed using a specialized needle that Dakota designed. Although it was initially done for purely aesthetic purposes, some claim that this piercing also helps reduce their anxiety symptoms. Some people also use it to treat migraines. There is anecdotal and limited scientific evidence suggesting its potential benefits for those who experience migraines.

Why the daith piercing for anxiety? Acupuncture and the vagus nerve

Some believe that getting certain ear piercings, like the daith or Shen Men piercing, may help alleviate symptoms of anxiety because the ear contains several acupuncture points that professional acupuncturists target. Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine, alongside other methods such as ear seeds and auriculotherapy, that aims to help with the flow of energy in the human body. Many holistic health professionals use pressure points, such as those related to the vagus nerve, in an effort to alleviate anxiety and symptoms of other health conditions. For example, the stimulation of pressure points in the ear is thought to help ease migraine symptoms. In a study titled “Daith Piercing in a Case of Chronic Migraine: A Possible Vagal Modulation”, the subject reported experiencing improvements in migraine attacks after having their daith pierced.  

Daith ear piercings and the vagus nerve

The daith piercing in particular, is thought by proponents to promote possible vagal modulation due to the constant pressure it may put on the vagus nerve. This nerve is a part of the parasympathetic nervous system that helps modulate blood flow to the brain, thereby affecting cognition and emotional control.  Some believe the vagus nerve controls inflammation due to its connection to the brain-gut axis, which could, in turn, modulate mood. 

How vagus nerve stimulation treats anxiety and migraine-related pain

Many Western doctors currently attribute the anecdotally positive results of a daith piercing for anxiety to other factors besides stimulation of the vagus nerve, such as the stimulation of endorphin release, a reduction of muscle tension, or improved circulation. Additionally, in the “Daith Piercing in a Case of Chronic Migraine” study, the researchers mention that the placebo effect may be responsible for the improvements to the subject’s migraine symptoms. This may also be the case when daith piercing is used to treat anxiety. Still, research from the London Migraine Clinic indicates that 40% of people are still experiencing fewer migraines at one-year post-piercing. 

Research on daith ear piercings: Medical and scientific perspectives

Most of the information on the use of daith piercings for anxiety and other mental health conditions is anecdotal. (In the above-mentioned case of chronic migraine, the researchers allude to the acceptance of daith piercings on social media platforms.) There have not yet been any US clinical trials that have produced scientific evidence to support its potential symptom-relieving effects. 

Supporters of this piercing point to scientific studies on acupuncture of the ear. For instance, one study tested how ear acupuncture affected the stress levels of healthcare workers. Its findings suggest that auricular acupuncture may be effective in reducing stress and anxiety among this population. Theoretically, daith piercings may produce the same effects that acupuncture does. Nevertheless, more studies will need to be carried out on the application of daith piercings specifically in order for many mental health or medical professionals to endorse it.

Considering the placebo effect of daith piercing for anxiety

Some people do not believe that daith piercings work for anxiety or to modulate mood, pointing instead to the placebo effect—meaning that a treatment works only because one believes it is working. After all, there is something to be said for taking control of one’s own anxiety. In some cases, this alone may alleviate symptoms. However, this does not necessarily mean that daith piercings do not work for psychiatric and inflammatory disorders. Until sufficient scientific studies have been completed, it’s not possible to say definitively whether this method reliably works or not.

Risks associated with a daith piercing for anxiety

As with any other piercing, a daith piercing comes with risks that an individual should consider before getting one. First, it can be painful to get the piercing, and it takes time to heal completely, anywhere from five to 12 months. If you decide to take the jewelry out someday, it could leave a mark even once the piercing has closed, which may bother some people.

Daith piercing is a cartilage piercing

Also note that because the daith is a cartilage piercing, it may have a greater chance of infection than standard lobe piercings. An untreated infection could lead to meningitis, facial paralysis, and hearing loss in extreme cases. It’s also possible to experience toxic shock syndrome, sepsis, or other complications from a piercing, particularly when the equipment used was not properly cleaned.

You might consider receiving medical advice from a healthcare provider before getting a daith piercing. A qualified professional can discuss the potential risks with you personally. For instance, they may tell you to avoid getting one if you take blood thinners or have diabetes, an autoimmune condition, or hemophilia.

Daith piercings may cause swelling 

Since daith piercings target the pressure point near the vagus nerve, they may cause localized swelling. 

Piercing the wrong pressure point 

Daith piercing is based on the principle of acupuncture, but without the right placement, it can cause inflammation. It’s important to ensure that the piercing is done by a skilled professional.

Daith piercing may cause nerve damage

Nerve damage is a possibility with daith piercings, which can cause numbness and prolonged pain.

Preventing infection near the vagus nerve after getting a daith piercing

To reduce the risk of infection from a daith piercing for anxiety or other common piercing, you might consider the following tips:

• Get your piercing and other piercings help at a licensed shop.
• Ensure the piercer is knowledgeable and licensed to do daith piercings specifically.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the piercing.
• Use cold compresses to reduce any swelling.
• Clean the piercing daily as directed by your piercer.
• Keep the wound dry and avoid activities such as swimming for as long as your piercer says to—usually several weeks at minimum.
• Avoid removing the jewelry until the wound heals completely—usually between six months and a year.

Watch for signs of infection such as swelling, redness, or prolonged pain. If any of these occur, it could be crucial to see a health care provider right away to alleviate symptoms and treat any infection. Since it’s non-invasive, many people consider therapy with licensed mental health professionals to reduce anxiety a safer alternative to daith piercing. 

Alternative and Complementary Therapies

Whether or not daith piercing really works to ease anxiety, it could be important to consider alternative therapies. There are many other non-invasive options that are thought to reduce anxiety. Some of these methods include acupuncture, ear seeds, mindfulness, and psychotherapy. With some research about various methods such as acupuncture, knowledge of available therapy options, and a little luck, you may find a safe method to alleviate symptoms of anxiety. 

Expert Insights: The Role of Psychology and Neurobiology

Experts in psychology and neurobiology acknowledge that anxiety is often a result of brain chemistry and activity in the nervous system. Thus, it’s not a giant leap to believe that ear piercings and other methods of vagus nerve stimulation could reduce anxiety or modulate mood. While there’s currently no scientific evidence supporting daith piercings, scientific interest in alternative and complementary therapies like piercings to alleviate symptoms of psychiatric and inflammatory disorders persists. 

How therapy can help with anxiety

While the idea of a daith piercing or anxiety piercing may be intriguing to some, consider that it’s not an evidence-based treatment to reduce anxiety. Before choosing a method to alleviate symptoms, consider all your options, including ear seeds and acupuncture, knowledge that exists in the psychological literature, and the advice of a doctor or mental health professional. 

Currently, the most effective method for addressing anxiety, according to a wealth of studies on the topic, is some form of talk therapy, sometimes in combination with medication. A therapist can equip you with strategies for shifting distorted thoughts, managing stress, and developing healthy habits. You might also ask about their experience with other treatments for anxiety, such as piercings.

If the thought of calling therapy offices to check availability and make appointments and then commuting to each session adds to your stress or anxiety, you might consider online therapy instead. Through a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist after completing a brief questionnaire. Then, you can meet with them virtually via phone, video call, and/or in-app messaging from the comfort of your home.

A growing body of research indicates that online therapy may be a powerful tool for people experiencing anxiety symptoms. For example, one study from 2021 suggests that therapy is “no less efficacious” when delivered virtually than when delivered in person.