How does acupuncture help headaches or migraines? There are many ways the body benefits from acupuncture treatment but it’s especially effective for people who suffer from headaches and migraines. Migraine strength can range anywhere from a minor inconvenience to a debilitating condition that can knock the strongest of people down.
When a person is in chronic pain, it impacts the entire body. Muscles become tighter, inflammation spreads, and fatigue sets in. Being in chronic pain is hard on the body! When blood vessels constrict, they decrease blood circulation, which can lead to pressure and pain or make pressure and pain worse. What acupuncture does is help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the part of the body that tells us to rest and relax.
The Physiology of Migraines – What’s the Root Cause?
Most headaches and migraines are due to the constriction of blood vessels. When blood vessels constrict, they decrease the circulation of blood which can lead to pressure and pain. Often, this constriction has to do with chronic stress or hormonal imbalances. Other causes may result from chronic muscle tension (mainly resulting from poor posture and stress!).
What acupuncture does is help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). It is this part of the body that tells us to rest and relax. Stimulating the PNS with acupuncture draws your body’s attention to this area and allows it to correct itself
How Acupuncture Reduces Migraine Symptoms
Acupuncture stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. This allows the body can relax, and as the body relaxes, the blood vessels dilate, restoring circulation. With increased circulation, the pain will decrease. Acupuncture also teaches the body to enter the parasympathetic state more readily and frequently, reducing the frequency of headaches and migraines.
Other Treatments for Migraines
Other options that people use to treat infrequent or minor headaches are over-the-counter medications. But when headaches or migraines are more severe or frequently occurring, doctors will often prescribe preventative medications. These can work well, but they commonly have unwanted side effects or aren’t well tolerated.
Acupuncture Effective Without Side Effects
That is where acupuncture and East Asian medicine come in and can positively benefit the individual! Acupuncture helps remind the body that it can relax on its own without the frequent need for medication. Research is still ongoing, but studies show that acupuncture can better treat headaches and migraines by reducing intensity and frequency. The best part is that acupuncture has fewer adverse side effects than prescribed or over-the-counter medications.
Is Acupuncture the Right Treatment for Your Headache?
Are you wondering if acupuncture would be a good treatment for your migraines? We recommend all new patients keep a headache journal; recording the frequency and severity of their headaches/migraines. Be sure to note what helps you feel better and what makes the pain worse. Be sure to record any meals and activities prior to the onset of the pain. Bring this journal with you to the first appointment.
A headache journal streamlines the intake process and gives your provider the information they need to work with you in the most effective way possible.
Schedule a Migraine Consultation
If you’d like explore how acupuncture can help with your chronic headaches, please schedule a free consultation and we’ll be happy to discuss your unique situation.
