Daith Piercing

Summary:
Daith piercing involves inserting a ring through the innermost cartilage fold of the outer ear. It has been promoted as a treatment for migraine based on its location near vagus and trigeminal nerve branches.

Biological Plausibility

Although nearby nerves are involved in migraine, there is no evidence that this type of piercing provides consistent neuromodulation. No biological mechanism has been confirmed.

Evidence

No clinical trials support its use. Surveys and anecdotal reports are confounded by placebo effects, expectation bias, and regression to the mean.

Effect Size

No established therapeutic effect. Any reported benefit is likely non-specific.

⚠️ Risk

Moderate. Risks include infection, keloids, persistent pain, and scarring.

Cost

$

Scores

• Benefit: 0
• Burden: 2
• Ratio: 0.0

Clinical Takeaways

• Widely circulated online but unsupported by clinical evidence.
• Risks outweigh theoretical or anecdotal benefits.
• Not recommended by headache specialists.

Key References

• Martins A, et al. *Daith piercing in migraine: a systematic review of the evidence.* Cureus. 2020.