Stress is inevitable…I say as I currently face back-to-school meltdowns, medical flare-ups, and an overnight 50% increase to the team I currently manage at work. Phew!
And while we talk about lots of ways to manage stress and anxiety symptoms on this website, there’s one technique that’s increasing in popularity year over year – piercing for stress!
Exploring Piercings and Stress Relief
Some people have found that certain piercings help to ease their stress and anxiety symptoms, and even offer a few other surprising health benefits!
Understanding the Vagus Nerve and Its Role in Piercing Therapy
The vagus nerve, which runs from your brain to many of your organs, plays a key role in how your body handles stress.
It’s responsible for regulating the parasympathetic nervous system, which counteracts your “fight or flight” response. The vagus nerve helps trigger a relaxation response in the body, reducing both stress and anxiety symptoms.
When activated, the vagus nerve releases neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, which dampen inflammation and promote a calming effect. And many people believe certain ear piercings might help to activate this nerve for effective anxiety treatment!
Daith piercings, for example, are cartilage piercings located in the inner ear fold just above the ear canal opening.
Some believe daith piercings might stimulate the vagus nerve, potentially helping to alleviate anxiety symptoms. While there’s no hard-scientific proof for this idea yet, many swear by daith piercings as an effective anxiety treatment.
The Connection Between Body Modifications and Stress Management
Although we’re focused on the impact of ear piercings on your vagus nerve, it’s important to remember that ear piercings like daith piercings, tragus piercing, rook piercing, conch piercing, and others can do even more for your mental health than stimulate the vagus nerve!
Getting ear piercings, tattoos, or other forms of body modifications can make you feel good in general. It offers a form of self-expression that can reinforce your sense of identity, boost your confidence, and release hormones that boost your mood.
Ear piercings can also give you a sense of control. When you choose to get one, you’re making a decision about your body, which can help you to feel empowered and more in control of your life.
Types of Piercings Associated With Stress Relief
Now…while piercing your ear lobe or cartiledge certainly offers a fun form of self-expression, it’s important to note that not all ear piercings offer effective anxiety treatment. The ear piercings noted below target specific acupuncture points and/or pressure points that may affect mood and anxiety levels.
Daith Piercings: More Than Just Aesthetic Appeal
Daith piercings are located in the innermost fold of your ear.
Many believe they can ease anxiety symptoms and even help with anxiety-related migraines. This type of piercing targets a pressure point in your ear.
Many people have reported feeling calmer in their day-to-day lives after getting daith piercings. But keep in mind, there’s not much medical evidence yet to support their claims.
The healing process of these ear piercings can take several months. So make sure you go to a reputable piercing studio to reduce your risk of infection or a botched healing.
Tragus Piercing and Rook Piercing: Targeting Specific Pressure Points
A tragus piercing goes through the small flap of cartilage in front of your ear canal, while a rook piercing goes through the upper part of your ear cartilage.
Both these piercings are thought to hit pressure points linked to relaxation. They might help you feel more balanced and less anxious throughout the day.
As with any type of piercing, proper care is key. Clean them regularly and avoid touching them too much while they heal.
Conch Piercing and Helix Piercing: Exploring Additional Options
A conch piercing is in the middle part of your ear, while a helix piercing is on the upper outer edge of your ear.
These piercings are less commonly linked to stress relief but some people find them helpful. It’s believed they might work by stimulating certain ear acupuncture points.
The Scientific Perspective
Did you notice a lot of mentions of “some people” and “no hard-scientific proof” above? That’s because scientific research on piercing for stress relief is extremely limited.
Evaluating Anecdotal Evidence Versus Medical Evidence
Many people claim ear piercings help them manage their anxiety symptoms. And if you’re anything like me, you make a lot of choices based on others’ reviews and experiences…which is wise!
Stories from individuals are called anecdotal evidence. And while anecdotal evidence can certainly be useful in your research, you’ll also want to examine the medical evidence available.
Medical evidence is more reliable, since clinical trials test ideas in a controlled setting.
And so far, there have been very few trials about piercing for stress…with the few that do exist presenting less-than-impressive proof for using piercings for anxiety treatment. Some studies have shown small benefits to using piercing for stress while others have shown no benefit at all.
You’ve likely heard exciting claims from others about piercings reducing symptoms of anxiety, curing anxiety-related migraines, or even changing lives. And while I always feel anything’s worth a try (Especially if your anxiety symptoms are severe and especially because ear piercings are relatively cheap!), it’s important to remember that their experience could be due to a certain type of piercing…or a simple case of the placebo effect.
Acupuncture Points and Ear Piercings: What Does Research Say?
Some believe piercings work like acupuncture treatments for anxiety disorder.
Acupuncture treatments use specific body points to assist with health issues, and ear acupuncture is a very real thing used by some doctors. But piercing isn’t the same as acupuncture.
Acupuncture uses thin needles for a short time, while piercings are thicker and are worn as permanent jewelry. There’s currently no medical evidence that they have the same effect on anxiety symptoms.
Aftercare and Considerations for New Piercings
Planning to get a piercing for stress?
Getting these or any type of piercing requires care and attention. You’ll want to follow a few specific steps to help it heal properly and avoid bacterial infections or other complications.
Navigating the Healing Process
Your new piercing needs time to heal. Be sure to clean it daily with a sterile saline solution.
Gently press a soaked gauze pad to both sides of the piercing for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with warm water after.
Don’t touch your piercing with dirty hands, and avoid moving or rotating the jewelry. This can irritate the area and slow healing.
Be patient! Healing times vary depending on the piercing location. Some ear piercings may heal in 6-8 weeks, while others can take several months.
Skip harsh soaps, dyes, and fragrances while healing, as these can irritate your skin. And always be sure to pat the area dry with clean paper towels after cleaning.
Risks and Precautions: Blood Thinners and Allergic Reactions
If you’re on blood thinners, talk to your doctor before getting pierced.
Blood thinners, such as Warfarin, aspirin, and ibuprofen, reduce the blood’s ability to clot, which is safer for blood vessels but can lead to excessive bleeding during and after a piercing procedure. This increased bleeding risk can make it difficult for the piercing to heal properly and may lead to complications.
You’ll also want to be aware of possible allergic reactions.
Some people are sensitive to certain metals. Choose hypoallergenic jewelry to reduce your risk of serious allergic reactions.
Watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling, or discharge as your ear piercings heal. If you notice these, see a doctor right away.
Similiar to tattoos, avoid swimming or soaking in water for extended periods while your piercing heals. This can introduce bacteria and slow healing.
And finally, if you get an ear piercing, be careful when using headphones or sleeping. Constant pressure can irritate the area.
So…will you get a piercing for stress relief? While it doesn’t work for everyone, I have several friends and family members who swear by its life-changing benefits…making me at least curious enough to give it a try!
To pierce or not to pierce? That is the question…
P.S. Could you use a little extra help managing stress? Download A Practical Guide to Stress | 17 Tricks to Take Control of Stress Today to help you develop a game-changing stress management plan. It’s free! Get yours HERE.
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