The Crazy Thing About Acupuncture Piercing

As health and wellness trends are exploding in popularity, more traditional and holistic therapies are taking center stage once more. Acupuncture is one of these trends. It is a traditional form of Chinese medicine which works with the meridians in your body to promote physical and mental healing. 

The worlds of body modification and holistic medicine intersect at the site of acupuncture piercings. It is getting so widely recognized that even some Western medical practitioners are beginning to recognize acupuncture piercings as a form of alternate therapy.

What is acupuncture?

As we have mentioned, it is one of the practices involved with traditional Chinese medicine. Thin and metal needles are inserted into specific areas of the body. These points are along your body’s natural meridians – the lines that your energy flows through. In Chinese medicine this energy is known as the vital force, or qi. 

The insertion of the needles at specific points is believed to force the flow of qi around the body, increasing your health benefits. Your body has 14 main meridians that acupuncture is performed along.

Metal alters the flow of energy through the body. Depending on where the needles are inserted, the impacts can be positive or negative. This means that if you are considering acupuncture piercing you should seriously consider the long-term impacts. We recommend consulting a qualified piercer and acupuncturist to ensure your piercing is safe and effective. 

Acupuncture piercings are believed to provide relief to stagnant qi. Your qi can become compromised due to stress, injury, aging, hormonal imbalances, diet, and more. This can lead to your qi becoming stagnant, eventually compromising your immune system and increasing the risk of chronic illnesses.

Ears and acupuncture

Many acupuncturists refer to the ears as a microsystem. They are packed full with over 300 different acupressure points. Each is directly connected to an organ or emotion and acupuncture here is believed to be highly effective. 

Ear acupuncture has become so popular that it has its own name – auriculotherapy. The treatment involves acupuncture needles, ear seeding, reflexology, and electrical stimulation of ear reflex points. 

Ear piercings

Daith piercings have rapidly grown in popularity as they are believed to help alleviate the symptoms of severe headaches and migraines. Conch piercings are believed to help with chronic pain. Tragus piercings are said to reduce your cravings for sugar, and industrial piercings are believed to help with allergies and allergic responses. 

Earlobe piercings are also significant. The first piering is believed to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, the second helps with your eyesight, and the third is said to alleviate depression. 

A helix piercing is said to help insomnia. A rook piercing reduces your stress levels, and a flat piercing can help you to control emotional eating as a stress response. 

Stretched ear lobes, like those seen on the Buddha, are believed to be a symbol of an expanded spiritual awareness. 

Belly button piercing

Many people with a knowledge of the body’s meridians will look at belly button piercings as an absolute no-go. There is a meridian running down the center of your body known as the Ren meridian. This is closely linked to the function of your central nervous system. 

Many practitioners believe that belly button piercings disrupt this meridian and can cause energy displacement over time. People believe that this piercing has been linked to MS and other chronic immune disorders. 

This is because it is obstructing the natural flow of qi through the body. The vessel that runs through your belly button is called Ren Mai, or the Conception Vessel. Potential issues related to this piercing can include infertility, endometriosis, and cervical dysplasia. 

Tongue piercings

Tongue piercings are very popular, but you may be unaware of the impacts that they can have. There are 6 different areas of your tongue, all of which correspond to a different area of your body and the meridians. Below, you can see the diagram. People have reported issues with digestion, acid reflux, constipation, acne, and fatigue as a result of tongue piercings. 

Lip piercings

Differing areas of your face correspond to different meridians in the body. Areas around your lips are aligned with your stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, colon, kidney, bladder, and lungs. These are major organs within your body. If you pierce through any of these areas, you are leaving yourself exposed to poor qi flow and potential negative health implications. 

As with any piercing, you should fully consider the consequences before going through with it.

What metal to use?

As you can see, the piercings mentioned here are hugely impactful on the way that your qi flows in your body. This means that the energy will all come into contact with the metal of the piercing you choose, so it is important to consider this material well.

Gold jewellery is believed to help with the activation of energy, in a supportive manner. In contrast, silver jewellery can help to drain or sedate your qi. This is particularly useful if you feel as though your qi is blocked. Copper has a long standing association with healing powers and is known to have anti-inflammatory properties.  

Ear seeds

Ear seeds are small magnets, plated with gold. They are placed in specific locations on your ears and worn for 5 to 7 days. They are believed to help reduce anxiety levels and improve symptoms of insomnia. They have also got circumstantial evidence claiming they reduce chronic pain, increase pain tolerance, and manage your weight. 

They should be installed by a qualified acupuncture practitioner. The location of the ear seeds is vital to the function, and they can have wildly different impacts if used in the wrong place. Many people will tell you to manually massage the ear seeds throughout the time they are installed. 

Once the time period has elapsed, you should remove the ear seeds. Some may fall out on their own. Many people will wait for a short time before getting ear seeds placed on once more.