I’m a girl who loves getting piercings. As of now, I have twelve: five in one ear, six in the other, then my navel. About two months ago I impulsively got a rook piercing, which goes through the inner edge of the uppermost ridge in your ear. It’s one step above a Daith piercing, which is the smaller ridge above the ear canal, and two steps above the tragus, the curved bulb covering your inner ear.
After I got this piercing I did some research into it, a little backward I know since I already got it. While looking into it, I discovered that this piercing can actually help with symptoms of anxiety. Once I learned this I researched more, I learned that specific ear piercings can help ease migraines, anxiety, relieve stress, boost immunity and decrease symptoms of anxiety.
So you may ask, how can a piercing help with all these medical symptoms; well the answer is rather simple: acupuncture. Acupuncture is the practice of penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles which are then activated through gentle and specific movements of the practitioner’s hands or with electrical stimulation. These activated pathways create an energy flow (Qi, pronounced “chee”) through the body that is responsible for overall health. By applying acupuncture to certain points, it is thought to improve the flow of Qi, thereby improving health.
With that, these piercings apply constant pressure to these acupuncture points that help with migraines, anxiety and immunity.
The first piercing that can help with migraines is a Daith piercing, which is located through the innermost fold of the ear. It does need to be administered by a professional to ensure precision and proper healing. Although this piercing has been noted as the most effective it does come with the most side effects. It also should not be done if you have diabetes or are on blood thinners; that can severely affect the healing process.
The next piercing is called the Shen Men piercing or the Divine Gate. This point is located as a specific point near the top-center cartilage of the ear. It’s known to calm anxiety, boost immunity, relieve migraines, center the body and reduce depression. It’s the second most popular section to pierce in regards to easing medical conditions. However, it’s less popular than the Daith because it’s proven less effective, but it’s less risky and has fewer side effects.
The last piercing point is the rook piercing. It’s heavily associated with migraine relief. This piercing is also growing in popularity for just pure coolness. However, the healing process is difficult and will take months. I’ve had mine for over two months and still have occasional pain. As someone who has never suffered migraines regularly, I can’t speak to if it helps, but some people swear by it.
When it comes to all of these piercings there’s no concrete proof that they are medically beneficial. However, there’ve been studies conducted that concluded that stimulation of specific reflex points in the ear can help relieve symptoms. So, if you go to a tattoo studio and ask for anxiety or stress-relieving piercing, the piercer will disclose that these methods have not been proven and are up to your discretion.
Although you may be disappointed if they don’t give you results, you’ll still end up with some really badass piercings.