Acupuncture for migraines or headaches might be the answer to your recurring pain, especially if you are tired of taking medications and missing out on work or life. Acupuncture is a different approach than mainstream medicine and can offer more benefits.
First, let’s look at a few facts about migraine headaches.
About 1 billion people worldwide experience migraines. (medalerthelp.org)
Migraines can last from 4 to 72 hours and are responsible for more than 157 million lost workdays each year in the U.S. (healthline.com)
People with migraines use twice the amount of prescription drugs and emergency room visits as those without migraines. (draxe.com)
Migraine patients incur 70% higher healthcare-related costs than those without migraines. (healthline.com)
Obviously, we suffer a lot of pain, out-of-pocket expenses and missed life due to migraines and headaches. You don’t have to be part of this suffering!
Types of Headaches Acupuncture Can Help
Acupuncture can help with many types of headaches.
Cervicogenic headaches – caused by pain in your neck or spine that transfers to your head
Cluster headaches – severe pain on one side of your head, typically around your eye, which is also often accompanied by watering eyes, swelling around that eye or nasal congestion
Migraine headaches – pain typically on one side of your head which can cause appetite loss, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting
Tension-type headaches – mild to moderate pain or tightness on both sides of your head
Acupuncture can also alleviate post-traumatic or disease-related headaches from high blood pressure, sinus problems or sleeping disorders.
On the flipside, migraines and headaches can cause or contribute to depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Of course, lack of sleep or poor sleep can lead to many other health issues, too.
So what causes migraines?
3 Typical Causes of Migraines and Other Headaches
A head injury or even changes in posture from a sedentary lifestyle can cause headaches. But most migraines and headaches can be attributed to 1 of these 3 causes.
Hormonal Imbalance
Use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy can throw your hormones out of balance. During pre-menopause and changes in your ovulation, your body may generate too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. Thyroid disease and other autoimmune disorders can also cause an imbalance in your hormones.
Food Sensitivities
Many headaches have been traced back to the foods we eat, and particularly the chemicals in those foods. Some of these triggers include aspartame, MSG (monosodium glutamate), nitrates (in deli meats), sulfites (in wine and dried fruit), tyramine (in chocolate and cheese). Gluten and dairy are also common food sensitivities.
Structural Malalignment
Developmental issues, trauma, constant stress and injuries can add pressure on the nerves near your spine. This compression causes your nerves to signal your head or back muscles to tighten. Constant pulling of these muscles can even pull bones out of alignment. Then your spine can get out of its normal, healthy position.
In fact, headaches or migraines can also indicate problems in your spinal column that need attention. This is one reason it’s better to choose acupuncture for migraines and headaches than to keep taking medications. You don’t want to mask another problem that needs to be addressed.
Research Shows That Acupuncture for Migraines Works
According to the June 2003 issue of Medical Acupuncture, in one case study, doctors found that acupuncture resolved or reduced the frequency and severity of cluster headaches. This also resulted in decreased or discontinued medications. (Acupuncture Treats Headaches and Migraines)
In addition, Duke University Medical Center researchers analyzed the results of more than 30 studies on using acupuncture as pain relief for a variety of health issues, including chronic headaches. Studies showed that acupuncture decreased pain with fewer side effects and lower costs compared to using medications. Acupuncture also reduced the need for pain medications following surgery. (Reduce Migraine and headache Pain with Acupuncture)
How does acupuncture relieve headaches?
Acupuncture prevents migraines and headaches by altering your nerve signals or the neurotransmitters your body releases. More specifically, it stimulates your cortisol production which is your body’s natural version of man-made corticosteroids (inflammation fighters).
Contrary to what you might imagine, acupuncture for migraines does not necessarily involve having needles placed in your head. More often, these very thin needles are placed in pressure points of your legs, arms, shoulders, and even your big toe with little to no pain or side effects.
The bottom line is that migraines and other headaches are too common and costly – in both time, money and quality of life. Yet they can often be prevented!
When you choose acupuncture for migraines or other headaches, you can reduce or even eliminate that repeating pain, nausea and vision issue. You can gain back the time missed at work or on your homefront, money spent on medications or doctors’ bills and your livelihood. Even better, acupuncture treatments for your headaches can also help alleviate other underlying issues, further supporting your wellness.
Instead of waiting for another headache during which it hurts to look at a screen or go to a doctor, schedule your consultation here now and begin to end the recurring pain!