Acupuncture for Headaches and Migraines

If you suffer from migraines and/or headaches that disrupt your enjoyment of life, you are not alone. According to theCDC in 2018, 20.1% of women and 10.6% of men have had a severe headache or migraine in the past 3 months. While those percentages can vary over time and by age, it does show that headaches and migraines are not uncommon. 

The good news is that numerous studies show acupuncture as effective relief for headaches and migraines, without the side effects and cost of pharmaceuticals.

According to one study, “…acupuncture appears to be an emerging migraine treatment and prevention at par with medication. In addition, it has longer-lasting effects, is safe, seems to be cost-effective, and reduces drug intake with the possibility of severe unwanted adverse effects. Acupuncture can be recommended as an alternative or adjunct to drug treatment for patients suffering migraines.”

Acupuncture works for headaches and migraines by regulating the pain response and balancing the nervous system pathways. 

As for frequency of treatment, acupuncturist and researcher Dr. Heather Wisely found that “A review of 6 trials that effectively used acupuncture for migraines found protocols ranged between 12 and 20 treatments. Often people received acupuncture between one and five times per week.”

To book your acupuncture appointment or a free consultation please schedule now. We look forward to working with you!

Eastern Medicine Perspective

The Eastern medicine perspective utilizes the above causes as additional data points in arriving at a pattern diagnosis. Individual diagnosis and treatment always takes the entire state of health into account. An acupuncturist also asks other questions to determine best treatment: Are there other areas of inflammation in the body? Is there is tension in the neck, back, scalp, or shoulders? If there is a dislocation was it caused by external trauma or perhaps degeneration or laxity of the structures? If there are trigger points, adhesions, or other patterns of tension what is the underlying cause? Stress can be a huge trigger in generating tension around the jaw and face, what are the factors contribute to holding stress in the body? Is there fluid or heat stagnation in the area or in other parts of the body? Is pathological cold or wind a factor? Are there headaches, sinus issues, ear or throat congestion? All of these together can help determine the best course of treatment.

Treatment with Acupuncture and Facial Gua Sha

In my practice I have found that directly addressing the areas of myofascial tension is tremendously helpful for the majority of TMJ pain. I release knots and areas of tension in and around the jaw, head, and neck using acupuncture. I use facial gua sha to coax residual tension out of the face and jaw and encourage circulation of blood and lymph. The acupuncture treatment in total addresses underlying imbalances while bringing about stress relief.

Self Care Strategies

Facial gua sha tools are easy to come by and use at home. The best tools for the face are the round edge semi-precious stone tools such as jade or quartz. Using a gently gliding motion, move from the chin along the jawline up to the area surrounding the ear. Use pressure as needed to give a massage to areas of tension. If jaw clenching at night is an issue I receommend practicing letting your jaw go slack, literally having your mouth hang open, particularly before bed, and consciously letting all of those muscles relax. Taking several deep breaths with the jaw slack signals to the body what a relaxed jaw feels like before you fall asleep and help reset that pattern. Work on any underlying condition whether it is inflammation, chronic stress, posture issues, or healing from an injury with the appropriate healthcare practitioner. Sources https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/facial-pain/prevalence https://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=32862