by Ariel
(Georgia, United States)
QUESTION: Will piercings affect the acupuncture meridians? I recently got three 14 gauge cartilage piercings. My boyfriend’s mother saw them the other day and is concerned that I am interfering with acupuncture pressure points in my ear. I have done some research and now I have questions.
(I would also like to say that I really like my piercings and I would love to keep them if it will not permanently interfere with my body’s energy)
1. Will the meridian flow move slightly once the piercing is healed?
2. If I replace my piercing with a different material will it prevent stimulation of the pressure points?
3. What material would be best if question two is yes? Glass? Porcelain? Wood? Stone?
4. Should I just remove the piercings?
ANSWER: Thanks for a great question, Ariel! There are two issues with piercings. The first is that the scar tissue may interfere with the flow of qi along the acupuncture meridians. Scar tissue conducts qi or electro-magnetic energy differently from normal body tissue. I have many patients who come in with chronic symptoms that clear up after we do treatments to restore the normal flow across scar tissue.
The second issue is that metal jewelry, especially in piercings can conduct qi or electromagnetic energy in a way that may negatively impact health. We see this all the time with metal fillings–these are even worse because the saliva, enzymes and different metals in the mouth can create powerful electrical fields that can be measured with the right instruments. Also, people frequently have autoimmune reactions to different kinds of metals and may not be aware of it. So one way to address this would be to use an inert material–like the ones you mention–stone, porcelain, wood, etc. They will not conduct electromagnetic fields and will not produce this potentially negative effect.
But we’re really talking in potentials here. Just because these things may happen, doesn’t mean they will. You could possibly keep these piercings and have no negative health effects from them. So, it’s your decision as to whether or not to take the chance. If you decide to keep the piercings I would definitely give your body a rest for 8-12 hours a day and remove the metal.
I hope this helps!
