How Acupuncture can provide Relief for Headache & Migraine Sufferers
Headaches come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from a minor nuisance to complete debilitation. For those who experience more than a few minor headaches a month, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine may provide relief.
Many factors are involved in headaches and migraines. Below are a few and how acupuncture can help:
- Hormonal:
For many women, hormone fluctuations (eg. during the menstrual cycle, menopause or due to birth control pills), can trigger headaches or migraines.
HOW ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP: Acupuncture and/or herbal medicine and supplements have been shown to help correct hormonal imbalances, regulate the cycle, and promote liver excretion of hormones and toxins (preventing build up of excess circulating hormones in the body). Many women have found relief from hormonal headaches and migraines using acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
- Muscle tension:
Tense muscles in the neck and trapezius (upper shoulders and back) can trigger headaches. The most common cause of the tension is stress and/or improper posture (eg. Sitting at a desk in front of the computer all day with your shoulders hunched up next to your ears). Other causes include a bad mattress/restless sleep (people will often wake up with tension or headaches), injury, or allergies can also cause tension in muscles.
HOW ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP: Regular treatments relaxes the muscles, and the nervous system, and calms the mind. Over time, people often find a higher tolerance for stress and feel less tense.
- Allergies:
A lesser known trigger of headache and migraine is allergens – environmental and/or food. Sinus congestion due to a cold or allergies is one example of an allergy related trigger. Additionally, another reaction the body may have to allergens is to create muscle tension and pain due to inflammation caused by immune system’s reaction to the allergen. Common food culprits include dairy, gluten and/or wheat, soy, peanuts, and corn. A simple blood test for IgG food sensitivities can help determine which foods may be causing problems for you. If the allergen is environmental, investing in a heavy duty HEPA filter for your house can help.
HOW ACUPUNCTURE CAN HELP: Regular treatments has been shown to help boost and regulate the immune system, which allows the body to tolerate foods and other potential allergens better without reacting. Acupuncture can also help to clear up sinus passages in order to relieve the pressure in the face which can often be a trigger for headaches and migraines.
For patients who are currently taking medications to control migraines or headaches, studies have shown that Acupuncture can provide relief for chronic headaches and many patients are able to decrease or discontinue medications.
Acupuncture provides a natural approach to treating headaches, free of side-effects that are commonly seen with medications.
