Where do nose cuffs and piercings come from?
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, nose piercings can be traced back 4,000 years to the Middle East, migrating to India around the 15th century and reaching Western civilization in the 20th century. The Mughal Empire brought the tradition of nose piercings to India in the 1500s, where it remains very popular today. Indian women pierce either their left nostril or both nostrils and wear "phul" (nose studs) or "nath" (nose rings). According to sources, most Indian women pierce their left nostril because it is associated with fertility. According to other sources, many different tribal and warrior cultures adorned themselves with nose jewelry as early as 40,000 years ago. Over the years, they were worn as dowries, for healing purposes, as a sign of beauty, as well as a sign of respect or marriage and wealth. In some African countries, nose piercing was part of an initiation rite for teenagers.
