Father’s fury after his daughter, 14, is sent home from school for wearing transparent earring that ‘stops her getting migraines’
- Bobbiemay Smith, 14, was sent home from school for wearing the stud earring
- Her father claims the earring stops her suffering from agonising migraines
- Daith piercings are said to replicate acupuncture and help with pain
- Cockburn John Charles Academy in Leeds say she can return if she removes it
A teenager has been sent home from school after getting a small transparent earring that her father claims stops her agonising migraines.
Bobbiemay Smith, 14, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, has been told by teachers that she can’t go back to regular classes until the stud is taken out.
Her father Geoff Smith, 49, claims the earring is essential and Bobbiemay hasn’t had a migraine since getting the piercing five weeks ago.
The so-called Daith piercings see a small hole created in the innermost cartilage fold of the ear in an attempt to replicate acupuncture.
Bobbiemay Smith (pictured) has been told by teachers that she can’t go back to regular classes until the stud is taken out
The so-called Daith piercings see a small hole created in the innermost cartilage fold of the ear in an attempt to replicate acupuncture
It is argued that some ear piercings stimulate nerves under the skin and muscle tissues, thereby producing pain-relieving substances, such as endorphins.
Although the practice isn’t universally recognised by medical professionals, Mr Smith said it has worked for his daughter.
Mr Smith said the piece of jewellery is not a fashion statement and that he bought the smallest, most inconspicuous stud he could to avoid it being an issue at school.
Officials at Cockburn John Charles Academy in Leeds where Bobbiemay is a student, says she can return to school if she removes the earring.
Mr Smith said: ‘What the school are saying is absolutely ridiculous.
‘It’s awful for a school to deprive a child of their education for something so minor.
Her father Geoff Smith (left, with Bobbiemay) claims the earring is essential and Bobbiemay (right) hasn’t had a migraine since getting the piercing five weeks ago
‘We tried everything to stop Bobbiemay’s migraines – she can be in agonising pain for a week at a time with them.
‘But she hasn’t had one since getting the piercing five weeks ago. The piercing is working, it’s not coming out.’
He added: ‘Bobbiemay was doing really well at that school so that’s where I want her to go back to.
‘She’s missed a lot of school now and it’s not fair. She’s an intelligent child and they have had no other issues with her until now.
‘I’m going to protest their decision.’
Mr Smith claims he was told by a teacher that the piercing is ‘inappropriate’.
They said Bobbiemay could go back to school with the piercing in but she would be confined to isolation away from other students, according to Mr Smith.
He added he has asked teachers for work so Bobbiemay can study at home but was told that’s not allowed.
In the school’s uniform policy, it states that ‘visible facial, tongue and body piercings and other items of jewellery (ie rings) are NOT permitted.
‘Covering of plasters will not be acceptable.’
Other items it says will not be accepted include excessive make up, false eyelashes and coloured socks.
A spokesman for Cockburn John Charles Academy said: ‘We would like to make it clear Bobbiemay Smith has not been excluded from the academy.
‘She is welcome back at any time, as long as the earring is removed. Students and parents are aware of our clear uniform policy which is applied consistently.
‘In this particular case, medical evidence or a doctor’s note has not been provided to suggest exceptional circumstances.
‘At all times, our focus is on Bobbiemay’s welfare and best interests and we hope to see her return to the academy as soon as possible.’
HOW CAN ‘DAITH’ PIERCINGS HELP RELIEVE A MIGRAINE?
The theory that ‘daith’ piercings help ease migraines is based on the idea that it is the same pressure point as that targeted by acupuncturists to relieve chronic headaches
The theory goes that ‘daith’ piercings relieve migraines, in a similar way to how acupuncture is used to help ease symptoms.
Acupuncture, a therapy which began in China more than 2,000 years ago, involves placing fine needles at specific pressure points on the body’s surface.
The needles are then manipulated by a acupuncturist, either manually or electrically.
It causes the blood vessels around the needle to open up and become wider, allowing for an increase in blood flow to the tissues in the immediate area.
A report published in 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine analysed nearly 18,000 patients and doctors from eight universities and hospitals in the UK, US and Germany.
The results showed in conditions including chronic headache, acupuncture was twice as effective as the drugs and exercise recommended by most doctors.
The Migraine Relief Center recognises the link, albeit a unproven one, between ‘daith’ piercings and easing migraine symptoms.
‘The principle is that the piercing mimics acupuncture by hitting a pressure point, which relieves the pressure in the patient’s head,’ a blog on the website states.
‘By having it done on the same side as most migraines occur, it’s thought to help reduce the incidence of migraines in the area.’
But, it cautions: ‘At this point, the effect of daith piercings on migraine has not been officially studied so it’s difficult to determine whether there’s any truth to the claims or not.’