TRADITIONAL ORIENTAL AND HOLISTIC MEDICINE
Est. 1984
Migraine and Headache Sufferers
Acupuncture Can Help
The pain that headache and migraine sufferers endure can impact every aspect of their
lives. Acupuncture can offer powerful relief without the side effects that prescription and
over-the-counter drugs can cause. Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine have
been used to relieve Headaches and Migraines, as well as their underlying causes, for
thousands of years and is a widely accepted form of treatment for headaches in our
society. There are acupuncturists that specialize in the treatment of headaches and
migraines and can help you manage your pain with acupuncture and Chinese herbs
alone, or as part of a comprehensive treatment program.
Diagnosis with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine does not recognize migraines and recurring headaches as
one particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique
to each individual using a variety of of techniques such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs,
tui-na massage, and energetic exercises to restore imbalances found in the body.
Therefore, your diagnosis and treatment will depend on a number of variables: Is the
headache behind your eyes and temples, or is it located more on the top of your head?
When do your headaches occur (i.e. night, morning, after eating)? Do you find that a
cold compress or a dark room can alleviate some of the pain? Do you describe the pain
as dull and throbbing, or sharp and piercing?
How Acupuncture Works
These questions will help create a clear picture on which your practitioners can create a
treatment plan specifically for you. The basic foundation for Oriental medicine is that
there is a life energy flowing through the body which is termed Qi (pronounced chee).
This energy flows through the body on channels known as meridians that connect all of
our major organs. According to Chinese medical theory, illness arises when the cyclical
flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced Acupuncture is the stimulation of
specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter
various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect.
The Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture points to treat headaches are located all over the body. During the
acupuncture treatment, tiny needles will be placed along your legs, arms, shoulders, and
perhaps even your big toe!
There seems to be little sensitivity to the insertion of acupuncture needles. They are so
thin that several acupuncture needles can go into the middle of a hypodermic needle.
Occasionally, there is a brief moment of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin,
but once the needles are in place, most people relax and even fall asleep for the
duration of the treatment.
The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary. Typical treatments last from
five to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated one or two times a week. Some
symptoms are relieved after the first treatment, while more severe or chronic ailments
often require multiple treatments.
Studies on Acupuncture and Headaches
Since the early seventies, studies around the globe have suggested that acupuncture is
an effective treatment for migraines and headaches. Recent studies show extremely
positive results:
In a case study, published in the June 2003 Issue of Medical Acupuncture, doctors found
that acupuncture resulted in the resolution or reduction in the frequency and severity of
cluster headaches, and a decrease or discontinuation of medications. It was concluded
that Acupuncture can be used to provide sustained relief from cluster headaches and to
stimulate adrenal cortisol to aid in discontinuing corticosteroids.
A clinical observation, published in a 2002 edition of the Journal of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, of 50 patient presenting with various types of headaches were treated with
scalp acupuncture. The results of this study showed that 98% of patients treated with
scalp acupuncture experienced no headaches or only occasional, mild headaches in the
six months following care.
In a study published in the November 1999 issue of Cephalalgia, scientists evaluated the
effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of migraines and recurrent headaches by
systematically reviewing 22 randomized controlled trials. A total of 1,042 patients were
examined. It was found that headache and migraine sufferers experienced significantly
more relief from acupuncture than patients who were administered "sham" acupuncture.
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