What is a Shenmen piercing and how does it work?

We hear more and more often that people are talking about the Shenmen piercing in the street, in cafes and in restaurants. For many, however, this area is still uncertain, and there are many blind spots in their knowledge of wellbeing body jewellery.

So what is a Shenmen piercing? What positive effects do people who already have one experience? When has it helped others? How does it work? And how is it actually placed? We have answered these questions.

What is a Shenmen piercing?

Acupuncture is a familiar concept to everyone. Traditional Chinese Medicine distinguishes 5 main acupuncture points in the ear, known as NADA points, and the best known of these is the Shenmen point. The word Shenmen means “divine gate”. By stimulating this special point, located in the uppermost segment of the outer ear, a calm, relaxed state can be achieved.

The Shenmen piercing is placed in the Shenmen point, the stimulation of which supports energetic balance and inner harmony.

Our guests have reported the following effects:

Stress reduction: For many of our guests, wearing a Shenmen piercing has helped reduce stress and reach a calmer state, and as a result they have also noticed a positive change in the quality of their sleep.

Supporting emotional stability: Many have noticed that wearing a Shenmen piercing has contributed to their emotional stability and to maintaining emotional balance.

Improving general wellbeing: Our guests who wear the piercing often find that their general wellbeing improves and that they cope more easily with everyday stressful situations.

It is important to note that individual experiences may vary, and not everyone responds in the same way to wearing a Shenmen piercing. Some feel its effects, while for others the effect is less noticeable. It is always important to be aware that these effects depend on individual sensitivity and on how the person’s body reacts, and in my experience, another piercing may sometimes be needed to achieve a positive result.

So our guests have reported positive effects of the Shenmen piercing in the following cases:

• depression
• headaches, migraine
• addictions
• sleep problems
• allergy
• stress
• joint pain

In a study published in January 2022 the electroacupuncture treatment of the Shenmen and Sanyinjiao points was examined. The ninety participants suffering from insomnia and depression were divided into 3 groups:

• a Shenmen group (30 people)
• a Sanyinjiao group (30 people)
• and a combined group (30 people)

The participants were treated with electroacupuncture for 30 minutes a day, only on the point of the group they belonged to. The study lasted 2 × 5 days, so the patients received treatment continuously for 5 days, then after a break of a few days another 5 days followed.

Before and after the treatment, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the anxiety scale (SAS) value and the depression scale (SDS) scores were assessed, and the serum levels of dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NE) in the blood were measured.

Based on the results, it was shown that the results of all three scales decreased by the end of the treatments in all three groups, but stimulation of the Shenmen point played an outstanding role in relieving anxiety and depression.

How does the piercing work?

You already have the answer to what a Shenmen piercing is – but how does it work?

According to one of the main principles of acupuncture, illnesses are caused by blockages in the flow of life energy (Qi, or chi), so the essence of the treatment is to restore the balance of the whole body through stimulation with tiny, hair-thin needles, which are placed along the meridians (energy channels).

According to reports, with constant stimulation of the Shenmen point:

• pain decreased / went away
• sleep problems improved
• stress decreased
• they felt less anxious

How is a Shenmen piercing done?

At the Medical Piercing studio, before the piercing we carry out an assessment in order to establish whether the Shenmen piercing may be useful for you. We also ask you about your complaints and your medical history, and we assess the condition of your ear. Here we also discuss, for example, how sensitive you are to pain and whether you have ever fainted.

This is followed by pinpoint-accurate point location, on the basis of which we can be sure that the chosen piercing goes in the right place. After all this, the piercing itself takes only a few moments. Our guests describe the pain like this: “it was as if an insect had just bitten me”, which passed almost immediately after the piercing was placed.

For the first piercing, by the way, the jewellery is made of medical-grade metal, which we sterilise in an autoclave at the studio.

Once the jewellery is in place, we chat a little morewhile you sit in the chair, to make sure that you are all right. At this point we go through all the other important things you need to follow during the healing time of the Shenmen piercing. Don’t worry about not remembering them all, because later, among other things, you will also receive information about this by e-mail.

We don’t leave you on your own!

After two weeks we call you to ask whether everything is fine and whether you feel the positive effects of the piercing. If not, under the guarantee we arrange a new appointment to do the Shenmen piercing in your other ear as well.

Our wellbeing piercings do not count as a cure and do not replace medical treatment; the description of their effectiveness is based on our guests’ feedback.

Now you know what a Shenmen piercing is too. Would you like to read some reviews of it? Click and find out more!