Does acupuncture successfully treat migraine headaches?
People frequently ask about headaches and whether treatment with acupuncture is successful. In my previous experience of treating patients for both Migraines and headaches, I can say that I've seen very promising results. The results are not solely in my clinic; there are studies that acupuncture for migraines. For instance, one in the British Medical Journal found that a reduction in the frequency of attacks occured after acupuncture treatment.
Types of headaches
Headaches in general are a very serious problem with as much as 75% of people afflicted by recurring headaches at some specific point in their life. There are two sorts of headaches. The first group of headaches for example cluster headaches, migraines, tension headaches or depression headaches are because of a problem in our central nerve network. The second group of headaches are not due to the central nervous network. The likes of high blood pressure, liver failure, influenza or such like cause headaches as a symptom of the primary issue.
Are migraines sexist?
Migraines tend to strike at a 3:1 ratio of ladies to males. Over 20% of adult females suffer from migraine headaches. 90% of migraine headache sufferers have a family history of migraine headaches.
What's a migraine headache?
The Western medical rationalization of migraines is that there is a quick opening of the blood vessels in the head (vasodilation) that leads to the pulsing pain of a migraine. Characteristic drugs to treat migraine headaches are NSAIDS such as naproxen or ibuprofen. This however usually just reduces the discomfort without dealing with the cause.
How are migraines experienced?
Every person has a different experience of migraines. Some have visible auras (lines or tunnel vision) prior to an attack while the others are sensitive to particular smells. Respite from the agony could be found in a dark quiet room or following sleep. Attacks can occur at work after sitting at a PC for an extended time or sadly just before the weekend when work stress eases off.
What sets off migraines?
For females and males, migraine headaches can be set off by outside events such as:
- eating processed meats containing nitrates
- eating chocolate
- drinking alcohol
- seeing lights flash
- experiencing fast air pressure or temperature change
For females, migraine headaches are frequently linked to their menstrual cycle. Hormone changes that happen during each stage of the cycle can trigger the migraine headaches.
Take these 3 steps to reduce the frequency and period of migraine headaches
Now you know the usual potential external causes of a migraine, you can lessen the frequency, duration and agony of a migraine by carrying out the steps that many others have used successfully:
- Keep a diary of when these potential triggers occur in your life and when you have a migraine. Try and build a connection between the 2. Once you establish that link, you can take command of these outside factors and eliminate the causes of your migraine headaches. If you can't completely lose the causes, at the very least you can be aware of when a migraine is probably going to be on its way!
- Acupuncture can also be exceedingly useful in treating migraine headaches. After a full consultation, your acupuncturist will identify the patterns totally unique to you that are causing your migraine headaches. There are a number of potential patterns that will cause migraine headaches, so your acupuncturist will rely on info you can give them. The more detailed this is the better. Usually your acupuncturist will wish to know the location and duration of discomfort, the time of day, your emotive state before the migraine and what you experienced during the attack. Hence as an element of your diary, it might be favourable to keep a note of these things also.
One of the commonest causes for migraines in acupuncture terms is the fast and unwarranted rise and accumulation of QI (energy) to the head. The reason for this varies from one individual to the next. The key target of the acupuncturist is to help this energy flow simply thru the whole body and lessen its accumulation in the head. This. Smoothing of energy can be done by a mixture of herbal care, stress easement by employing meditation or yoga, and acupuncture. Your acupuncturist will counsel a mix of these to help solve the problem.
- If a migraine headache does slip thru your new found defences, you can try some straightforward acupressure to ease the pain. This essentially means applying some pressure to acupuncture points around the base of the skull and around the neck like GB-20, BL-10, GB-12 and GB-21. There are also points around the hands and feet like LI-4 and LIV-1, LIV-2 or LIV-3 to decrease pain in the head. These alter dependent on your underlying issues, so it is really important to ask your acupuncturist which to use as well as where they are.
So how long is a course of acupuncture treatment for migraine headaches?
Just like drugs that treat migraines usually take 4 weeks to start to take effect and up to 3 months before their full effect kicks in... Acupuncture must be carried out weekly for an extended time period while the patient continues to have migraine headaches. Once the migraines have ceased, the patient and acupuncturist will then agree the new period of time between treatments to fit the subject's specific case. Basically the duration between treatments will steadily be lengthened, whilst making sure the migraines remain in hand.
Why you should try acupuncture
Migraines are debilitating. Treating the symptom (pain) with medicines simply masks the essential reasons for the migraines. Acupuncture hopes to both tackle the symptom (discomfort) whilst addressing the essential causes (patterns) and is certainly worth trying if you have migraines and wish to tackle the causes as well as the indicators of migraines... Naturally.
A word of warning
As with all health-care treatments, it is important to find a registered and qualified acupuncturist.
How are you able to select an acupuncturist to treat you?
It's critical for patients to pick an acupuncturist who is registered with a professional body. In the United Kingdom, The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) members have intensive undergraduate degree level coaching in acupuncture and biomed sciences acceptable to the practice of acupuncture in Britain. They are bound by strict codes of ethics, and safe practice and professional conduct. You must then look for information about the clinic your scheduled acupuncturist is practising in. A good example of the information you ought to be looking for is The Morley Acupuncture Clinic page on the Pagoda Acupuncture website.
This gives information regarding the clinic, the acupuncturist at the clinic (myself in this situation), links to testimonials for the acupuncturist, how it's possible to get to the clinic and facilities nearby the clinic that might be helpful to a patient. This is the level of detail you should expect.
By guaranteeing your acupuncturist is registered and the clinic meets your expectations you may be pretty sure that you will get a certified, effective and enjoyable treatment.
Iain Lettice is a full member of The British Acupuncture Council. He graduated top in his year from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BSc (Hons) Acupuncture degree.
You can find Iain on the Pagoda Acupuncture website which now lists Acupuncture Clinics in Great Britain. The Pagoda Acupuncture website has been created by Iain to help all registered Acupuncturists get on line when they do not have the funds or expertise to do that. Please contact Iain via the internet site If you'd like to be found on it.
Here's a up to date testimonial for Iain's work with a chronic headache patient at the Morley acupuncture clinic.