Headaches and Migraines can be very debilitating

Acupuncture and Headaches / Migraines

Headache is a condition which seems to be a type of pain but the type of headache actually varies from person to person. You will be surprised to learn that headaches are usually divided into two categories – primary and secondary. The primary headache is the real health concern and is not caused by another disorder like migraines, headaches caused by stress and cluster headaches. There are various health disorders which can cause headaches such as head injury, brain tumor, sinus ailments, dental problems, etc which belong to the category of secondary headaches.

Statistics show that a major percentage of the population does suffer from migraines and more women are found to be suffering from this ailment than men. Migraines are not the usual headaches as they are found to interfere with a person’s daily life and impair with their functioning and sometimes they need to get bed rest to combat the condition. This type of headache is usually characterized by a throbbing type of pain which is usually one-sided. Some people also experience nausea during their migraines and they can become quite sensitive towards light and noise during their attack.

Migraines are extremely severe and painful and the sufferer feels quite weak after the attack, hence, it is necessary that this condition is treated with consideration and extra care. The best treatment for migraine is to prevent the onset of an attack and concern should be to bring about immediate pain relief. Acupuncture is one of the effective treatment methods by which migraines can be treated. The treatment sessions can occur between migraine episodes. It is important to keep the stress levels low so that future migraines could be avoided and for this reason, general relaxation response is encouraged by relieving the stiffness and spasms in the shoulders and in the neck region. This treatment process requires the administering of fine needles into various parts of the body such as head, back, stomach, legs and arms.

Many studies point to the fact that acupuncture is extremely effective in reducing the frequency of migraines and is definitely termed as a valuable treatment method for this condition. Migraine sufferers who are using acupuncture have confirmed that they found more relief from the treatments than using medication to get rid of intense pain. They also reported better physical and mental well-being. Some people are scared of acupuncture thinking that the use of needles will be painful. However, acupuncture is certainly not a painful experience and the treatments work by releasing the body’s own natural painkillers. Some people have been found to experience relief in as little as 5 to 6 visits.

Many medical practitioners also believe that combining medication with acupuncture therapy would be a great step in treating migraines and this combination has also offered ample relief to many. One of the important aspects of acupuncture is that it does not have any side effects which is the reason for the increasing popularity of acupuncture as a positive treatment for migraines and headaches.

References:
Duke Health
Acupuncture Treatment 
Migraine Article

Tagged as: Headaches / Migraines