A piercing professional has revealed that an increasing number of clients are requesting specific piercings in order to cure a range of health conditions.
Ben Tauber, 30, from New York, has seen a rise in people coming to him for ear piercings on the advice of acupuncturists to help alleviate a variety of ailments – including migraines, period pains and even hunger pangs.
Speaking exclusively to Femail, the expert – who works with celebrity piercer Maria Tash – explained that he pinpoints specific pressure points depending on the medical request – and many of his customers are convinced it works.
‘I have a lot of clients who I have pierced to help alleviate some of their ailments,’ he said. ‘For many of them it worked and they couldn’t be happier, but for others, it hasn’t helped – however they still have a very cute piercing.’
Ben Tauber has revealed he has seen a rise in piercing requests from clients, who have been advised by their acupuncturists to get a specific pressure point in their ear pierced to alleviate certain pains. The rook is said to help with period pains, while lobe piercings are more common forms of body art
The 30-year-old American professional piercer has frequently been asked to pierce the conch, which is the inner part of the ear decorated with a single star piercing, to alleviate lower back pain
The daith piercing claims to get rid of migraines. Ben and acupuncturist Daniel Elliot have found an increasing number of people suffering with severe headaches request the body art
While the daith is the most common piercing to get rid of migraines, there are other areas that are thought to alleviate aches and pains, too.
Ben has revealed that a separate client who requested a piercing in the rook area, which is the cartilage in the middle of the ear between the tragus and the outer ear, noticed their period pains had completely disappeared after the new body art.
Meanwhile, another who asked for an outer conch piercing noticed a positive impact on their lower back pain and digestion.
‘The daith piercing is definitely the most well known in this situation,’ explained Ben, who helped pioneer the ‘curated ear’ movement, which recognises ear piercings as an extension of a person’s styling.
The tragus piercing is said to get rid of hunger cravings. After being advised by acupuncturist, Ben’s clients often come to him to get their perfect piercing in the pressure point
The professional was told by a client certain helix piercings could impact on their fertility, although he has insisted he has never known anyone to have a negative reaction from this body art
Speaking of some of his most memorable requests, Ben continued: ‘I’ve had a client who came in to get a classic Tash Rook piercing, which in itself is directly above the rook, but passes through the ear as opposed to down through the rook.’
‘They explained to me when they were talking with their acupuncturist that this was a spot that, when done, can actually help to alleviate severe cramps associated with their menstrual cycle.
‘Since I did that original one, I’ve actually had a few people come to me to request the same thing. I’ve had a few of them come back to see me and they swear it helps.’
Meanwhile, Ben has also had two to three people who went to see him to receive outer conch piercings.
‘They had told me these were meant to help with lower back pain,’ he explained. ‘This was once again something that was suggested by their acupuncturist.
Ben has also been asked to perform a conch piercing on some of his clients after their acupuncturist advised them that the pressure point could help with digestion and stomach pains
Ben insists his clients will often come to him with magnets in their ear to ensure the exact pressure point is pierced
‘There was also I believe one or two people over the years who have requested a tragus piercing to help to alleviate their hunger cravings.’
To ensure he targets the correct place on the body, the client’s acupuncturists will pinpoint the exact place Ben needs to pierce to ease the pain.
‘They will arrive with either a small disc placed in/near the spot to be pierced, or with a small magnet bandaged to the area,’ he said. ‘These are absolutely awesome guides for me to help with piercing these.’
However, Ben has also been asked to change the placement of a helix piercing in fear it could ‘disrupt’ a person’s fertility – something which he doesn’t know is true.
‘I have people ask for different placements when it came to certain mid level helix or cartilage piercings because it can disrupt their fertility,’ said the expert.
Although Ben believes piercings are primarily for aesthetics, he does believe there is a method behind the madness and that piercings can work as a ‘more permanent’ way to hold onto a pressure point.
The Tash Rook piercing has been requested to combat severe stomach cramps when women are on their menstrual cycle. The model pictured boasts a string of body art including the tash rook, helix and lobe piercings
Ben has been asked by different clients to pierce the conch, after being advised by their acupuncturist it can help with stomach pains and digestion. But the artist believes the piercings are, first and foremost, art and a form of self expression
‘Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years,’ said Ben. ‘Something, in my eyes, wouldn’t be utilized or believed for this long if it didn’t truly have its merits.
‘I do believe a large amount of those piercings are purely for aesthetics.
He added: ‘Acupuncture is the temporary placement of a needle on these individual points, whereas the goal with the piercing is to create a permanent channel. Something that can apply this pressure, or disrupt this energy flow in a more permanent manner.
While there’s been a rise in other areas of the ear being pierced, the traditional lobe or ear cartilage remain the most popular requests.
Ben Tauber works closely with celebrity piercer Maria Tash, as he helped with the ‘curated ear’ movement
‘The ear lobe piercing and the traditional ear cartilage piercing will always reign at the top here,’ he explained.
‘Whether it’s the seven-year-old child who finally gets to adorn their ears with something that is special to them, or a 93-year-old who never had the ability, or acceptance to have their ears pierced.
‘The cartilage piercing is just an amazing way to start to build that personal identity with your own piercings and really start to claim them as a part of your own identity.’
London-based acupuncturist, Daniel Elliot, 43, from The London Acupuncture Clinic, has acknowledged clients are getting ear piercings after noticing the benefits of acupuncture and hoping for a more permanent solution to their ailments.
‘Many patients feel they have gained great benefit from acupuncture and so it’s natural they want to see if they could make that relief more permanent,’ he said.
‘As acupuncturists, we are constantly changing the treatment and therefore can adapt to a patients needs at that time, but there’s definitely a place for more fixed treatment. The daith piercing for migraines is especially the treatment that I have been asked about over the years.’