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Controlling Migraine Through Acupuncture

Migraine is a severe form of headache that afflicts a lot of people. Migraine users often turn to alternative therapies for pain relief, either to extend the range of treatment or because conventional medicine does not have the desired effect. One such alternative form of treatment is acupuncture. Acupuncture is an integral part of Chinese medicine that has been practiced as early as 2000 years ago.

How Does Migraine Occur

Acupuncturists believe that an ailment in the human body occurs due to an imbalance in the energy flowing through your body or due to a ‘blockage’ in the energy flow. The acupuncturists first identify energy lines along your body, known as meridians. Then, by inserting needles at specific points on these meridians, the energy flow is stimulated, which helps correct the imbalance.

Migraine is thought to be a result of reduced blood and energy. Thus, by stimulating blood and energy flow by use of acupuncture needles, this problem can be significantly reduced over time. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects the constriction and dilation of blood vessels, and can thus trigger a migraine. It has been proven that through acupuncture, serotonin levels can be balanced, reducing the occurrence of migraine.

Before beginning any treatment, an acupuncturist usually asks for your complete health history involving medical conditions, lifestyle habits, emotions and so on to completely assess the health of your body. In the initial stages of treatment, the acupuncturist typically uses minimal needles, gradually increasing them. If you experience excessive pain or discomfort, you should notify the acupuncturist immediately.

Sessions Required To Treat Migraine

Results of this method have been apparent with just a few sessions with an acupuncturist. Many studies have shown that after only four sessions, the timing and position of the pain, and the intensity of the pain have reduced. It has also been proven that associated symptoms of migraine such as nausea, faintness, gastric problems, and cognitive difficulties have lessened.

Precautions To Be Taken

There are some risks with this method such as nerve injury or brain damage resulting from an accidental puncture in the wrong area. As acupuncture is an invasive therapy with the use of needles, you should also ensure the needles are sterile. Therefore, make sure you go to a licensed practitioner.

It is important to realize that acupuncture for migraine should not be used in isolation and a healthy diet and regular exercise is extremely important. The acupuncturist will normally suggest a diet change, excluding food types that might trigger a migraine.

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