Thanks for checking out Part Three of “On Pins and Needles.” After receiving follow up questions to Ann’s March 8 blog post: “Can the Daith Piercing Cure Migraine Headaches?” we wanted to delve deeper into piercing and acupuncture. Today’s post focuses on hard data. Click here to check out Part One or Two to see what else I discovered about piercing and acupuncture!
“I’m an English major, guys. I love this nerd stuff”–Me
Last time I reviewed key points including piercing professionals and acupuncturists studying both acupuncture and piercing. I wanted to follow up on a few things after my research last time:
- Are there piercing professionals who have trained with a licensed and respected acupuncturist? (If your piercer claims to be trained in both—>DO YOUR RESEARCH!)
- Are there acupuncturists who have trained with a licensed and respected piercing professionals?
The gist is this–all roads point to two totally b@d@ss lady professionals and their combined work in piercing and acupuncture.
Enter Kristen Horner Warren∼ a licensed acupuncturist with background training and study in traditional Chinese medicine and physiology, and Elayne Angel∼ an internationally renowned professional piercer who is published in the field and has consistently affected piercing trends across the USA. The two completed a ten-day project where Angel worked with Warren at her practice in Texas to complete a series of ear piercings on individuals who then allowed Warren to track pain management benefits and side effects.
- KHW states that results showed the pain management benefits of an ear piercing on acupuncture points in the ear lasted anywhere from a week or two to one month then faded, often completely. Warren compares this to the relief one might experience with auriculotherapy (ear acupuncture) treatments that are nonpermanent and less risky.
- Both KHW and Angel warn that many cartilage piercings take 3 to 6 months or even longer to heal (long after pain management benefits have worn off!) and that proper placement is absolutely imperative to getting a piercing that will not get irritated or migrate.
- Above all, Angel warns that individuals should always get pierced by “a professional from the AAP website” to find a piercer who is properly trained and using sanitary, high-quality equipment and jewelry.
For more information about the study that KHW and Angel completed, check out this blog post on the Live Oaks Acupuncture & Wellness Center website to read Kristen Horner Warren’s full account of her time working with Elayne Angel.
Let us know by leaving your comment if you have experience with our topic or know of other studies like the one completed by Elayne Angel and Kristen Horner Warren. We are always interested in the most up to date information!
