A few weeks ago I more or less did a spur of the moment things. I finally booked the appointment at the piercing studio to get the acupuncture piecing for migraines done. And while I was at it it decided what he heck… lets do the sleep one as well. I can’t loose much. I may gain better sleep and fewer migraines and the worst two more holes in your body.
But let’s back up a bit. Everyone sticking around for a bit knows about my ongoing migraine battles. At these times I am openly communicating that I suffer from migraines – not to draw on some pity but to explain that I need a bit longer to process conversations, that I can’t meet in a noisy neighborhood or that my motor coordination is off. When I was at Zumba with a migraine trying hard to catch up a fellow Zumba member mentioned she also suffers from migraines but has gotten a migraine piercing. And things have improved. And three of her friends have done it as well and tell about positive results. I was intrigued. Also skeptical as is my nature. But more so curious so I checked the website and studied all the information.
Piercing Acupuncture Points
In short using well know acupuncture points and piercing them is what is done. Having a piercing at these locations will result in a constant stimulus in the targeted spots.
BUT this is not an official therapy method. So no health insurance or whatever will not cover it. And secondly it’s all about the individual. So what may work for me may not work for you and vice versa.
We all have heard about acupuncture and there is studies out there that acupuncture could help migraine patients. Personally, I have never done it. Not sure why. Maybe I would have if the insurance covered it. Maybe I would have paid for it on my own if it wasn’t so expensive. However I have caught myself often enough messaging certain points and felt a release. So I know it’s working somehow or at least gives some relief.
So believing that a permanent stimulation of such point may have a lasting result was believable for me. I have read the entire – well laid out website – of the piercing studio. Also seeing that the piercer is doing her own study to have the results documented. So there was a bit of scientific approach that I appreciated. She also refers to different studies that have been done for acupuncture and certain trigger points she has been pricing. I felt I was in good hands. And it was a recommendation.
Here is a chart with trigger points. This is not universal and depending on different approaches it may vary.
I have not looked deep enough into it to verify if this is identical to common known acupoints.
(Disclaimer: Image done by AI, prompted by me.)
As I said I decided to do the migraine piercing (point zero) which is in the cartilages. I was not aware that it would hurt to be honest. Well, it wasn’t very painful but definitely uncomfortable and a weird pain. And I was not aware that she would do it with a needle and not a gun. But I guess how else. I really didn’t think much about it before hand.
The second one (Point of Jerome) that is for sleep – falling asleep, uninterrupted sleep, good sleep etc. This one was not as hurtful and mainly just like any other ear piercing.
How does the piercing feel
I guess the most interesting part is what did change. Or di something change at all…
Right After the Piercing
Right after the piercing I felt heat and energy emanating from my right side (I was pierce on the right ear). And a little later I felt things shift. It’s really hard to explain without sounding loco and esoteric but imagine a rock was thrown in a river and things needed to move around. That is what it felt like inside my body. It also felt a bit like tectonic plates shifting and rearranging.
About four or five hours later my entire jaw was so relaxed. That day I had very tense jaw muscles so much so that it popped and cracked but when I told the husband about the piercing I suddenly realized it was all gone. Interesting.
The migraine piercing hurt a little and is much more sensitive. According to the studio it can take up to six month of healing. I need to clean it twice a day. However after two nights I was able to sleep on that side again.
Two Weeks After the Piercing
I am very lucky that my piercing are healing pretty well and quickly. The cartilage one obviously takes a bit more time but I don’t flinch anymore when I absentmindedly touch it. (Which I obviously shouldn’t).
As for migraine relief.
I can say that ever since I had the piercing my jaw has never been tense. Coincidence? Effect? Not yet sure.
As for the migraines it’s a bit tougher. I have had a migraine on the left side. But only briefly. Not sure if the piercing did its work or the yin yoga I did after getting up. While typing this I have a bit of tug and strain in my right temple. But I haven’t eaten or drank anything. Also I would usually never file that under migraine as it is this light. I think for some (for me!) qualified feedback I need a bit more time to observe my adaption.
As for sleep improvement
Man, I don’t know. I have nights with four hours and almost eight hours. This will be something I need to see in the long run. I am not having very high hopes here to be honest. But since it really can’t get worth I don’t care. Even if I never be able to track it and it does something I am here for it.
One month with a Migraine Piercing
I had hoped to report that no migraine occurred. But it did happen. a four or five day migraine. Hormone induced though. It was week three of my migraine piercing. I had a feeling it is not as severe though, didn’t quite develop fully. But then was annoying still. On day to of the attack I had a presentation so I took some medicine. during the night. Again in the morning. Did help. A nurse at the hospital gave me more medication during our meeting. also didn’t really help. So I gave it up and just suffered through it.
So it’s not working? Still not sure. I had a feeling the migraine was a but different. My muted somehow. I think one month is not enough tie to really come to a conclusion.
Other things I realized but am not sure it’s connected: I have had some ear pain. It feels very deep inside my ear/head. I am not sure if that is the nerve the piercing constantly stimulating and it was just too much with migraines or if I actually had regular ear pain. Another thing I need to observe.
However, one thing is pretty clear: My jaw tension is very much gone.
As for the sleep I can’t really say much. I have nights I sleep better, I have nights I sleep 3.5 hours. I have no longer high hopes in this department to be honest. So what ever the piercing may or may not do it can’t make it worse.
Next Steps
After two to three months (January) I need to get to the studio and the jewelry is being switched. Right now I have the one that is a bit longer so swelling is not interfering. I am already looking forward to a shorter one as I feel the cartilage one tickles me and the other one has caught on fabric when changing clothes. However, I most likely will just stick with a plain silver ballpoint look and no fancy rhinestones.
A Verdict?!
I have really come to like the look of my piercing. I enjoy them and can see myself getting more or on the left ear.
As for the relief it is yet too early to make any reliable statement. But I have defiantly felt a major shift that day it was done and something is different. I cannot rule out wishful thinking though.
For me it was not a waste of time and money spent even if it doesn’t rid me of the migraine.
Do you have a piercing? Have you done acupuncture? Do you believe in alternative medicine, TCM or integrative therapies? Have you ever suffered from something that you would do something crazy to just get rid of it?
18 comments
I hope you will get some relief in the long run.
I hope so too. At least I like the look if nothing else.
Thank you for sharing this, Tobia. I think it’s great that you tried it, and they look pretty! I wish it had completely relieved your migraines and made you sleep better, but it sounds like you still got some good benefits from the piercings. The jaw tension relief sounds wonderful! Maybe after more healing, the effect will increase? It’ll be interesting to see what happens.
I do think that alternative therapies can have benefits. I haven’t tried acupuncture, but have successfully used acupressure points to relieve pain. Meditation and massage are helpful for me too.
I totally agree. Alternative and integrative medicine is nothing to dismiss. We are often just not very intone with out bodies to see the nuances the bring. I believe that it can not be a bad thing to have these piercing and I have an inking that the severity is effected. I will observe and report back but feel free to ask in case I forget.
So sorry to hear that you get migraines. How amazing would it be if the piercing completely did away with them. I cannot imagine trying to function in daily life with a bad headache or with bad sleep (I have struggled with bad sleep – 3-4 hours with no relief, but I have SIBO and they put me on a medication and that helps, still – why cant they just fix it?).
I have zero piercings. Weird, I know, I know. It grosses me out and I pass out easily. The thought of putting a hole in my ear, or anywhere – nope. Can’t do it.
Well, no one wants you to pass out so it’s a good thing to know it’s not for you.
You would think research would want to find a cure for the chronic disease that migraine is. It is among the top 3 world wide. Oh well, it mostly woman suffer so go figure. I wouldn’t know what to do with all the time I would get when the migraines are gone. Sorry you suffer from SIBO (I had to google and hope I figured out what it is).
Oh that is so interesting. I didn’t know that there are piercings to relieve migraines or help with sleep. You know, I am definitely open to alternative medicine. What’s the worst that can happen? It doesn’t work… very little to lose and I actually think the piercings look cute! I hope you’ll have more improvement going forward.
I am definitiv open to it. There is so much knowledge to be found in old folklore ways that have been ridiculed and dismissed by western culture and colonization. I am sure if that would have been researched as thorough as other ways we might be a bit better off.
I definitiv try if there is no harm to be found.
I have an autoimmune disease that comes with a lot of joint pain, and I am up for ANYTHING. I have tried main stream medications (various levels of success), acupuncture (no difference), massage/acupressure (some success), and yoga (success). I have tried drinking shots of apple cider vinegar, lots of supplements, putting my feet in grass, swimming, hot tub, etc. My main takeaway is just what you said…what works for one person does not work for another.
I like the look of your piercings if nothing else. I would love for them to solve this, so you can post and all of our migraines sufferers would be cured, along with YOU.
I think only people with chronic pain understand that at some point you are so desperate you try anything even if you know its bollocks.
I am impressed of what you have tried and I am sorry that nothing is really working or giving you relief. I used to work with a girl who had also rheumatic flares and she worked with a nutritions coach and saw some major improvement. I am sure you have also tried that.
As for the piercings, I am not expecting it to cure migraines. It is after all a neurological over sensibility to so putting a hole somewhere can’t change biochemistry. However I am game for what it may do to the overall wellbeing and reducing of attack severity and frequency.
I have a navel piercing and double holes in each ear and a cartilage piercing on my right ear. My cartilage took FOREVER to heal and got infected and was a big deal. I am tempted by the migraine piercing because I get a lot of headaches and the research seems positive on them. I don’t know where I stand on alternative medicine. Sometimes it’s ancient medicine that has provided a lot of relief for many generations! Why should I turn my nose up at it? Even if it is “just a placebo effect,” I say an effect is an effect, right?
What can you loose if it’s not working?
Sorry to hear your cartilage one gave you trouble. I was a bit surprised how hurtful it was. But now I can’t remember really so maybe I’ll do the left ear too next year when everything has healed.
I have never heard of acupuncture piercings, but it makes total sense! I remember when I was doing regular acupuncture, my technician applied these stickers to my ears to help continuously stimulate the acupressure points there. I didn’t have a good experience with the stickers, but I bet piercings would be very different.
This was fascinating to read and I hope that you have a good longterm outcome!
Thank you Suzanne, well drew out it will be developing in the longrun.
I have never done acupuncture. It always looks a bit scary but I can believe it’s having some effect.
This is fascinating. I hope you get some relief. I don’t know that I could do the piercing, the thought of having something put that close into my ear just makes me feel ick.
Did you ever do acupuncture or Botox procedure for migraines? I found the Botox so hurtful. This was much better.
This is so interesting – I wasn’t aware that there is acupuncture piercing for migraines (and sleep). I hope this helps you in the long term – so interesting that your jaw was relaxed within a few hours.
Your piercings look great – I’ve been wanting to get my ears pierced again sometime.
I had no idea either. It not so common apparently but it makes so much sense to me.
The jaw thing was really weird and interesting.