| Acupuncture and Migraines Acupuncture can be very effective for headaches and migraines. Acupuncture can have fewer side effects than long term use of pain relief medications. Additionally acupuncture can help decrease the frequency of headaches. The number of acupuncture treatments depends upon the patient. Typically acupuncturists will begin with one or two treatments a week. It is best to be treated when one does not have a headache or a migraine (if possible) as sometimes migraines can increase in severity if the patient has one when they come in. In other cases, acupuncture can take the pain away but it is better when used as a preventative treatment than a quick cure for pain. Pain relieving medications may be the choice for that quick cure for the pain, but typically they can’t prevent the pain from returning as they wear off. Acupncture can help with that. It is safe and has minimal side effects. The most common side effect of acupuncture is bruising. Acupuncturists see pain as a symptom that the qi (the body’s energy—see also terms) is not flowing the way it should. Qi flows through the body in channels or meridians, like a river. If the river becomes blocked by a dam, pressure will build up on one side and restrict the flow of water on the other. This is what can happen when the qi is obstructed. In this case, there is too much qi in one area of the body and not enough in others. Pain is a common symptom when this happens. Qi can become blocked for many reasons. Often our energy bounces back and symptoms resolve without intervention. However, in other cases, the blocked energy creates weaknesses in our system that can require some assistance before the blockage goes away. The following is a list of studies on acupuncture and headaches, including migraines. Ahonen E, Hakumaki M, Mahlamaki S, partanen J, Reikkinen P and Sivenius J (1983) Acupuncture and physiotherapy in the treatment of myogenic headache patients: Pain relief and EMG activity, Adv Pain Res Ther 5:571-576. Loh, L, Nathan PW, Schott GD and Zikha KJ (1984) Acupuncture versus medical treatment for migraine and muscle tension headaches, J Neurolo Neurosurg Psychiat 47:333-337 Vincent CA (1989) A controlled trial of the treatment of migraine by acupuncture Clin J Pain 5:305-312 Vincent CA (1990) The treatment of tension headache by acupuncture; A controlled single case design with time series analysis, J Psychosomatic Res 34:553-561. Carlson J, Fahlcrantz A, Augustinsson LE (1990) Muscle tenderness in tension headache treated with acupuncture or physiotherapy, Cephalalgia 10:131-141 Hesse J, Mogelvang B, and Simonsen H (1994) Acupuncture versus metoprolol in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized trial of trigger point activation, J Internal Med 235:451-456 |
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