The history of wellbeing piercings comes from the acupuncture theories of traditional Chinese medicine: according to a thousands-of-years-old tradition, lasting stimulation of certain points of the body may have a positive effect on physical and mental health. We show you where the method comes from and how it works.
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The basic idea is thousands of years old: lasting stimulation of points on the body may help restore balance.
Chinese medicine discovered the body’s meridian system, along which energy (Qi) flows. Acupuncture points are located along these meridians.
A long-known acupuncture point that is associated with the inner energies and the nervous system; stimulating it was aimed at relieving stress, anxiety and sleep problems.
An American acupuncture specialist observed that stimulating the area around the Daith point may have a positive influence on migraine attacks.
As acupuncture gained ground in the West, therapists and piercers experimented with lasting stimulation: this is how the Shen Men piercing was born, and the method grew in popularity.
It is placed in the “gate of heaven” point, which according to traditional Chinese medicine plays a role in the balance of body and mind. Our guests mostly choose it because of stress, anxiety and sleep problems.
About the Shenmen piercing »
It provides lasting stimulation of a point on the inner part of the ear that is connected to the vagus nerve – which plays a role in regulating pain and inflammation.
About the migraine piercing »A wellbeing piercing does not count as acupuncture, but it (also) stimulates points used in acupuncture.
The mechanism of action is based on the principles of acupuncture and acupressure – on several levels.
The migraine piercing applies continuous pressure near the vagus nerve. This may help:
The aim of the Shen Men piercing is to restore the flow of Qi. Lasting stimulation:
The jewellery applies lasting pressure to the point – like acupressure, where points are stimulated with pressure instead of needles. Continuous stimulation may help reduce pain.
As with acupuncture, they may help release “happiness hormones”: these are natural painkillers that may improve mood and ease stress.
Wellbeing piercings became significantly more popular in the mid-2000s, especially among people looking for a lasting, drug-free option for chronic pain and for managing stress.
Although there is no full scientific consensus on their mechanism of action, a great many case studies and experiences have accumulated over the decades. See the international research: migraine-research.org.
Technically it is not acupuncture: acupuncture uses needles temporarily, whereas a wellbeing piercing is a permanently placed piece of jewellery that stimulates near the acupuncture points.
Wellbeing piercings may work in several ways: by restoring the flow of energy through the meridians, by stimulating the nervous system and by releasing endorphins. These may contribute to relieving pain, stress, anxiety and other complaints. Although the mechanism of action is not always scientifically proven, many people report positive results.
93%
Of the 2,238 guests we surveyed, this is the share for whom Medical Piercing was effective.*
Book an appointment* The total number of piercings was higher than this. The statistic is not official. The piercing is not an officially recognised therapeutic device but a wellbeing piece of jewellery, whose effectiveness is based on experience and feedback.
The headache piercing worked after 4 weeks. I had been tormented by headaches for months, and now they disappeared from one day to the next – I hope they don’t come back!
I had a migraine and a Shenmen piercing done at the Kecskemét location. The specialist was very kind and helpful, and I am completely satisfied. The next day I had a headache, but that is normal; since then I have had no complaints, and the aftercare is going fine too – it doesn’t hurt at all.
