Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines
Let’s talk about headaches and migraines as they are two of the most common conditions I treat. Most people have experienced at least one headache in their life, whether they deal with regular headaches or have gotten the odd one here or there from a hangover, accident, or from being sick. We all know they are awful and treating them can sometimes be a challenge. For treatment to be effective, it’s important to know what type of headache someone is experiencing.
The most common types of headaches I see in the clinic are:
Tension: these often begin at the back of the head and creep forward spreading around both sides of the head. Tension headaches are very common and can be triggered by a number of things; including stress, fatigue, hunger, injury, and eye strain.
Sinus: these headaches are caused by swelling in the sinus cavities around the cheeks, nose, and eyes. They present when someone is experiencing allergies or sinus congestion. They tend to be worse in the morning before a person has had a chance to clear their sinuses or when bending forward.
Cluster: these headaches tend to occur in clusters happening daily for a stretch of time, sometimes up to months. They typically present with pain in and around one eye that may also include tearing of the eye, a droopy eyelid, and a congested nose. Triggers include physical exertion, bright lights, and high altitudes.
Migraine: these are not just severe headaches. Instead, headache is just one of many symptoms associated with a migraine. In addition to severe head pain, migraine sufferers may also experience symptoms such as light, sound, and scent sensitivity, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, numbness or tingling, loss of appetite, confusion, and dizziness. Triggers include hormonal changes, strong scents, overexertion, sudden changes in pressure, caffeine, stress, and more.
Headaches and migraines are not very well understood and as a result, treatment options can be hit or miss. Most of the time, doctors will recommend OTC pain-killers or preventative medications. The downside is that the drugs often come with unpleasant side effects and they don’t actually treat the root cause of the symptoms.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatments are customized to the individual so they can go beyond just relieving pain. Here is a list of reasons why you should try acupuncture and Chinese medicine for headache and/or migraine relief.
Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins to relieve pain and increase feelings of well-being.
Acupuncture improves blood circulation. Discomfort in the body can be a result of unhealthy blood flow. When the blood flow is improved, oxygen can more readily reach the tissues and decrease discomfort.
Acupuncture reduces inflammation. While inflammation is a crucial part of the body’s natural healing process, chronic or prolonged inflammation can lead to many different health issues. Acupuncture reduces inflammation by affecting the body’s cytokines. Cytokines are proteins secreted by the immune system that influence how cells interact.
Acupuncture can regulate serotonin levels. Many researchers believe that serotonin is a trigger for migraines. Regular acupuncture can help regulate serotonin in the body so that you will experience less frequent migraines.
Acupuncture releases muscle tension. It’s not a secret that we spend a lot of time at desks, in cars, or staring down at our phones. All that built up tension in our upper body can lead to headaches. Luckily acupuncture is excellent at releasing the muscles.
Acupuncture is super relaxing. How often do you get a nap in the middle of the day? For most of us, the answer is not often. Take advantage of a quiet and relaxing space and let your stresses melt away.
Chinese herbal medicine is effective for treating the root cause. While taking OTC or prescription medications can sometimes be helpful for reducing the symptoms of headaches or migraines, they don’t treat the root cause. I like to get to the root cause and treat that because anything less is just putting a band-aid on the issue.
If you struggle with headaches or migraines and want to try a new approach to pain relief, call or text today to set up your free consultation! I love to start with a consult so we can get to know each other a little better and make sure that we will be a good team on your health journey.