Using Acupuncture to Relieve Headaches + Migraines?
Today, we will talk about using acupuncture for headaches or migraines. But first…
What does it feel like to have a headache or a migraine? If you have them, you know. It could be a dull throb at the back of your skull, or behind your eye, or at your temples. It could feel like an ice pick being driven into your head. It could also feel like mounting pressure that you feel desperate to relieve.
Some headaches are merely annoying. Some stop you in your tracks and leave you begging for mercy. Migraines can also be crushing in their intensity. They often come with other symptoms like temporarily losing eyesight or seeing hallucinations whether frequent or severe, pain from headaches can impact your body and your psyche.
In addition to the obvious pain component, headaches can also be associated with *other* symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Light sensitivity
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Tenderness of the scalp
The most tragic component of having headaches is how used to the pain its sufferers get. They just think they are doomed to live this way forever.
Aren’t Headaches Normal?
It’s easy to write off headaches as being normal, but they can slowly start to chip away at your quality of life. There is a difference between “Many people experience this” and “It is normal to experience this.”
In the US alone, around 20% of adults complain of having severe headaches. Approximately 20% of adults complain of having headaches once or more per week, and severe headaches are twice as frequent in women.
Headaches and migraines can impact areas of your life that may or may not be obvious, such as:
- Poor quality sleep
- Reduced hours at work
- Reduce work quality
- Decrease motivation to exercise
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Reduced focus at work and becoming less in the moment with friends and family
Reduced sex drive
Despite headaches being a common experience, they aren’t a “normal” part of being human. If a person is experiencing headaches with any regularity, it is a sign that something is wrong with your body! No BODY is perfect, but addressing the root cause of headaches is often easier than you think.
What Causes headaches?
Many things can cause headaches, some of them severe or life-threatening (but we are an acupuncture clinic, so we will skip those!). Common, non-life-threatening causes of headaches can include:
- Tight muscles
- Poor posture
- Whiplash
- Sinus infections (sinusitis)
- Hormonal imbalances
- Withdrawal from caffeine
- Discontinuation of analgesics (painkilling medication)
- Alcohol, especially red wine
- Certain foods, like processed meats that contain nitrates
- Changes in sleep/lack of sleep
- Skipped meals
- Stress
- Dehydration
Can Acupuncture Help With Headaches?
Several recent high-quality studies have shown acupuncture to be an effective therapy for headaches and other types of chronic pain. Yay! Just check out this post from Harvard Health for more info.
We Are Passionate About Giving Our Patients Relief
Our patients tell us that they enjoy coming to get treatments because we listen to their unique sets of symptoms and make them feel heard and understood. Our system is simple and effective, and it is designed to get our patients back to what they love to do. We specialize in treating:
- Tension Headaches
- Migraine Headaches
- Cluster Headaches
- Sinus Headaches
- Menstrual Headaches
- Occipital Neuralgia
If you are experiencing headaches and you are interested if you would be a good candidate for our program, you can schedule a risk-free assessment by clicking the link below.
