There‘s no scientific evidence that tragus piercing helps manage migraine. However, similar to acupuncture, daith and tragus piercing may help vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and, in turn, manage pain.
Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI
The tragus is part of the outer ear that sticks out above the lobe and partially covers the ear canal. People sometimes pierce this area as an alternative migraine treatment.
No research studies directly support this theory. However, VNS and acupuncture may be effective in treating migraine, and tragus piercing might have a similar effect.
Possible tragus piercing benefits
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Some anecdotal reports say that tragus piercing might help migraine by reducing the episode frequency and severity, but there’s little scientific evidence supporting this.
It takes about 12–16 weeks to heal from an ear cartilage piercing, which includes the tragus and daith.
The American Migraine Foundation advises against daith piercing (daith is the fold of cartilage inside the ear). It also says there’s no evidence to support the procedure for migraine, and it comes with a risk of pain and infection.
What science says about tragus piercing benefits
The vagus nerve contains sensory and motor functions and is the longest cranial nerve in the body. There is evidence that stimulating this nerve can help with migraine symptoms.
A 2023 research review found a specific type of VNS reduced the number of migraine days and headache intensity. However, this did not change the number of acute medication days.
Case studies
A 2017 case study described a 54-year-old male with lifelong debilitating migraine symptoms. He had tried many conventional treatments before getting a daith piercing. After the piercing, he had a reduction in migraine episodes and experienced less debilitating, tension-type headaches. This improvement continued for 1.5 years.
Another case study, published in 2020, described a 47-year-old female who received a daith piercing in the left ear, which resolved her migraine symptoms. Eventually, the symptoms returned on the right side. She got a piercing in the opposite ear, and symptoms resolved for around 9 months.
In both cases, researchers could not rule out a placebo effect.
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Another theory holds that tragus piercing and daith piercing work like acupuncture, providing pressure to a certain spot in the ear that can help relieve migraine symptoms.
Although there is evidence acupuncture can provide some migraine relief, more evidence is needed to confirm the full effects.
Are there any tragus piercing risks?
Tragus piercings come with the same risks as other body piercings, including:
infection at the piercing site
allergic reaction to jewelry components such as nickel
cuts and tears
scarring or keloid formation
bloodstream infections such as hepatitis B or C or tetanus from equipment
You can help prevent these complications by practicing good hygiene and protecting your tragus piercing.
Use salt soaks and mild antiseptics diluted with water to clean the area. If you sleep on your side, place the ear without a piercing on the pillow, or sleep on your back if both ears have piercings.
Headache and migraine medications
There are medical treatments to prevent migraine and to manage acute migraine episodes.
Acute treatments for a migraine attack include first-line, second-line, and options for refractory or returning migraine. The table below lists some of the medications available over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription.
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Contacting a doctor
If you have concerns about a tragus piercing, a doctor or healthcare professional may advise about its risks and benefits to migraine.
You may consider contacting a doctor if your headaches interfere with your day-to-day life. If you are having migraine episodes once per week or more or using pain medications for any headache twice per week or more, you might benefit from medical investigation and treatment.
Summary
No direct research exists on using a tragus piercing to treat migraine.
There are case studies on daith piercing and migraine. However, researchers state the positive results might be from a placebo effect.
Research does support VNS and acupuncture as migraine treatments, and a tragus piercing may work in a similar way, although more scientific research is needed to confirm this.
Recognized medical migraine treatments include OTC pain relievers and prescription triptans.
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